News

‘Massive’: Govt slashes red tape for rocket launches

The federal government has relaxed a requirement that space operators use third parties when applying to obtain launch licences or permits in a move that promises to save Australian...

Defence slams the brakes on Big Four spending

The Department of Defence reduced spending with the Big Four consulting giants by an average 40 per cent in the 2022/23 financial year, the first full 12 month reporting...

Govt opens consultation on capitalising on RNA capability

The federal government is considering further support for parts of the RNA sector after helping establish the southern hemisphere’s first commercial mRNA manufacturing capability in Melbourne. The Industry department...

Business Council wants NRF narrowed

Australia’s peak business lobby group wants the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund to support fewer industries and be dedicated to critical technologies as part of an overhaul of industrial...

AIIA puts weight behind proposed federal Tech Assessment Office

The Australian Information Industry Association has thrown its weight behind a backbench proposal for a Technology Assessment Office to help policymakers better understand the impact that emerging technologies could...

Australia must respond to our changed strategic circumstances

The landmark National Reconstruction Fund is a significant achievement for the Albanese government. But since it was unveiled, the goalposts have shifted dramatically and it is no longer enough....

Getting a second chance at solar manufacturing

Australia can recover from its infamous fumble of solar panel manufacturing that saw homegrown technology launch an entire industry in China. But the price of establishing domestic operations is...

Hydrogen’s future must go beyond energy monopolies

Australia needs to build an end-to-end hydrogen ecosystem across the nation serving multiple hard to abate use-cases in order to meet our 2050 decarbonisation commitments. Avoiding a monopoly trap...

$71m NSW satellite manufacturing hub canned

A $71 million satellite manufacturing hub planned for the outskirts of Canberra has been canned by a consortium of aerospace and defence firms in the wake of the Albanese...

$5m Defence Trailblazer grant for onshore quantum silicon

Silex Systems will establish a $16 million production plant, funded in part by the federal government, to provide companies like Silicon Quantum Computing with a sovereign supply of quantum...

Listen to the regions on energy transition policy: McKenzie

The leader of the Nationals in the Senate Bridget McKenzie has warned government against being too prescriptive about which technologies will successfully drive the transition to a net zero...

Gig Guide: Defence gets a new data chief

The Department of Defence has found a new chief data integration officer in Paul Robards, who will oversee the half-a-billion-dollar OneDefence Data Program. He will replace Dr Maria Milosavljevic...