News

Govt says it will reform employee shares, again

The federal government has again announced plans for major reforms of the employee share scheme at a cost of $550 million, after promising a series of changes to the...

Digital focus, but DTA gets a budget haircut

The Morrison government’s second pandemic budget contained plenty of red meat for the tech industry through its $1.2 billion digital economy strategy initiatives. But despite this focus, the Digital...

Local tech gets overlooked by govt again

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has rightly connected the government’s big investment into its digital economy strategy to its program of economic recovery. But it is a lost opportunity if the...

Govt to fund local mRNA vaccine manufacturing

The federal government has said it will develop an onshore mRNA vaccine manufacturing capability in Australia, but the actual amount of funding allocated to the significant task has been...

Standalone FOI Commissioner to be appointed

A standalone Freedom of Information Commissioner will be appointed to work alongside the Privacy Commissioner, with the government to finally meet its legislative requirements in separating the positions. Angelene...

Digital identity council to advise NSW Govt

The NSW government is assembling a new advisory council for digital identity policy, as the state and federal government look to accelerate digital identity and data sharing programs. On...

ACCC seeks to enter Apple and Epic showdown

Australia’s competition regulator has made an unusual request to the Federal Court to weigh in on the ongoing legal battle between US companies Epic Games and Apple, saying the...

A digital economy strategy must include targets

The Morrison government should be commended on its commitments to a digital economy strategy. For a government galoshing its way through a mire of unplanned issues, it’s good to...

Gig Guide: FinTech Australia’s new board member

Former senior advisor to the Turnbull and Morrison governments Harry Godber has been added to the board of FinTech Australia as an independent director. Mr Godber acted as an...

Aussie science wants a ‘legacy defining’ budget

Climate change mitigation, STEM education, and research commercialisation and funding are atop the budget wishlists of Australia’s scientists, engineers and medical researchers. They say this year’s budget could be...

CSIRO to invest $100m in emerging tech research

Australia’s national science agency will invest $100 million over four years in emerging technologies to assist with the economic recovery, including a significant focus on digital transformation in the...

Games sector key to $190m Victorian screen strategy

The local games development sector is a key focus of the Victorian government’s new $190 million screen strategy, announced just days after the federal government unveiled a tax incentive...

Chief Scientist on ‘glacial’ STEM diversity progress

Achieving gender parity in senior STEM leadership positions in Australia will take more than 150 years at the current pace, according to Australia’s chief scientist Dr Cathy Foley, who...

Software RDTI scheme top of tech budget wishlist

The tech sector is hoping for more support in this week’s federal budget following the unveiling of a $1 billion digital package last week, with a standalone tax incentive...