News

WA audit slams $1.6b cost blowout on major IT projects

Western Australia’s largest in-flight IT projects have blown out by at least $1.6 billion and will be delivered years later than first planned, a damning review by the state’s...

R&D review discovers uninvited AI guest

The federal Industry department has moved to correct the record after reports an Irish AI startup has joined the government’s generational review of Australia’s research and development system. The...

New flight test milestone for Ghost Bat military drone

Australia’s Ghost Bat military drone program has reached a significant milestone, with a single operator successfully controlling two of the MQ-28A aircraft during recent trials at the top secret...

NSW to top up game development rebates in Budget

State government support for video game developers in NSW will be topped up in the Budget as part of a $380 million package for the screen and digital games...

AWS cranks $20b into Australian AI data centre push

Amazon Web Services says it will spend $20 billion in Australia over the next five years on business operations, including on a significant expansion of its data centre infrastructure....

Meta’s US$14.8b Scale AI deal latest test of data partnerships

Facebook owner Meta’s $14.8 billion (A$22.8 billion) investment in Scale AI and hiring of the data-labeling startup’s chief executive will test how the Trump administration views so-called ‘acquihire’ deals,...

BCA calls for new investment breaks to anchor R&D in Australia

Australia’s peak business lobby is urging the Albanese government to introduce a suite of new incentives to de-risk research and development investment and motivate businesses to develop IP locally....

Tech workers push for access to govt data sharing scheme

Tech sector professionals are pushing for private sector access to the government’s fledgling data sharing scheme, telling a review their admission under tighter controls could start delivering the promised...

The Gig Guide: Qld finds its next privacy chief in Bermuda

Queensland has a new privacy commissioner in Alexander White, a former privacy advisor to the US Department of Homeland Security and the current privacy commissioner of Bermuda. Mr White,...

News Wrap: Productivity gets a slot in policy prime-time

The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was at the Press Club this week telling Australia that he had instructed the Treasurer Jim Chalmers to convene a special Productivity Roundtable in...

Pillar II pile on: Stakeholders warn on rudderless AUKUS tech

The Western Australian government and UK tech and business groups are among critics of AUKUS’s advanced technology program, warning ‘Pillar II’ is still missing funding, structure and direction four...