News

Budget lacks basic science funding

The story of the past year has been the pandemic: from the first outbreaks in early 2020, the identification of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and methods to detect it, through...

Global talent program has been stuck onshore

Home Affairs has declined to answer questions about the impact of a taskforce established last year to attract “global super talent” to Australia, after it was revealed most of...

Searching the past for a new digital democracy

Ada Lovelace, the daughter of poet Lord Byron and collaborator with mechanical computer pioneer Charles Babbage, is credited with being the world’s first computer programmer. Lawyer and writer Lizzie...

Australia is losing its quantum edge: ASPI

Australia is falling behind in the global quantum technology race despite its history of leadership in the field, according to a new Australian Strategic Policy Institute report, which calls...

Intangible asset depreciation policy is a 2015 reheat

A flagship policy from the federal government’s $1.2 billion digital package around intangible asset depreciation is a rebranded policy from Malcolm Turnbull’s innovation agenda more than five years ago...

Tech sector backs budget as a ‘good start’

The government’s budget measures have been broadly welcomed by the tech sector but many argue more should have been done to capitalise on a once in a lifetime opportunity...

Science welcomes ‘future focused’ budget

Peak organisations representing Australian scientists and engineers have welcomed the “future focused” budget,  but say the government has missed another opportunity for a clean energy revolution. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg...

A patent box scheme and an RDTI review

A limited patent box scheme will be launched by the federal government, offering tax breaks for medical and biotech innovations in an effort to boost commercialisation and retain IP...

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...