News

Cheap nickel endangering Aust battery ambitions

Growing cost pressures and falling prices are putting the $1.8 billion Australian nickel industry at risk, threatening long-term processing and manufacturing opportunities in the battery value chain, according to...

CSIRO carves off part of Main Sequence

The CSIRO has sold the employment company it set up for its Main Sequence Ventures Fund to members of the investment team so they can pay “market” rates for...

National science council fills vacancies with three new members

Australian scientists specialising in nuclear physics, health and epidemiology have been appointed to the federal government’s science and technology advisory council, which went without a full compliment of members...

Profanity-free AI trial begins in NSW schools

New South Wales has begun a six-month trial of a blended generative artificial intelligence app in the state’s public schools, giving students and teachers access to multiple large language...

Govt, Greens reach deal on ‘right to disconnect’

A ‘right to disconnect’ allowing workers to ignore unreasonable contact from their employers outside working hours will be included in the latest tranche of industrial relations reforms following months...

Tech Policy Design Centre proves its worth to ANU

The Tech Policy Design Centre has been made a permanent fixture at the Australian National University and will be supported by a new advisory group featuring current and former Australian...

It’s Defence procurement, but not as we know it

The first major test of the acquisition powers of the Defence department’s new Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) will pass a major milestone next month with a competitive “fly-off”...

Defence scientists red team robotic vehicles in AUKUS trial

Australian defence scientists have carried out a series of trial electronic attacks against robotic vehicles operated by the United States and the United Kingdom as part of the latest...

ARC overhaul a step closer with committee backing

A Senate committee has given the green light to landmark changes to the Australian Research Council, including scrapping ministers’ veto power, but the latest debate has again exposed “abysmally low”...

Q-CTRL lands UK funding to solve transport bottlenecks

Australian quantum startup Q-CTRL has won close to $2 million in funding from the UK government to help its public transport agencies optimise routes and timetables using quantum algorithms,...

Govt to scope health and medical research workforce

The Health department has ordered an independent audit of Australia’s health and medical research workforce to inform the development of national policy amid a “paucity of recent data”. The...

Defence manufacturer grants tighten industry focus

Australian manufacturers of anti-drone technology, guided munition components and hypersonic vehicles have shared in $3.4 million in federal defence industry grants announced on Tuesday by Defence Industry minister Pat...