News

COVID app downloaded 1m times already

Nearly one million Australians have downloaded the government’s official coronavirus information app in just 24 hours, with “rapid enhancements” to be rolled out in the coming weeks. The coronavirus...

Govt role for our hard hit ecosystem

Over this past weekend, the federal government unveiled an Australian coronavirus app and a Whatsapp news service designed to provide citizens with up to date, real-time information about the...

Senate committee extension on R&D Tax review

The senate committee tasked with scrutinising the federal government’s controversial changes to the research and development tax incentive has been given a five-month extension amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic....

Govt eyes Singapore COVID-19 tracking app

There could soon be an Australian version of Singapore’s coronavirus tracking app, with the federal government urgently reviewing the technology amidst the growing COVID-19 pandemic. An Australian Government coronavirus...

Welfare calls for communications subsidies

The government has been urged to step in to address immediate affordability issues in relation to communications services and equipment to ensure that low income earners, the unemployed and...

RDTI savings must go back to innovation

The hundreds of millions of dollars in savings from planned cuts to the research and development tax incentive should be reinvested in direct support for Australian innovation, according to...

Govt coronavirus app set for launch

A new app providing coronavirus information and guidance to Australians will be launched next week by the federal government after being developed by a Canberra tech company. Delv has...

Tech workers: Front line of essential services

Debate is underway on how to apply key classes of technology worker to essential service definitions in the event that mandatory lock-downs are applied across Australia in order to...

Fresh calls to invoke Crown use of patents

The Opposition has called on the government to invoke the Crown use of patents to ensure the supply of essential services during the coronavirus pandemic as it looks to...

AIIA, ACS and Engineers seek single voice

Three of the nation’s most powerful technology-related associations are in talks on formalising collaborative arrangements that would allow the tech industry and its professionals to present a single voice...

Digital crisis campaign misses target

The $30 million COVID-19 public awareness campaign run by the federal government has been a “failure” and needs to make better use of digital platforms and social media to...

Govt sets out web blocking protocols

The federal government and ISPs have formalised the official rules governing the blocking of websites hosting “horrific material” in the wake of a terrorist attack or violent crime. The...

Tech giants launch SME support platform

A new website has been launched offering free services from global tech giants for Australian businesses trying to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. The Australian Information Industry Association...

MyGov failure as industry is briefed

At the moment the unloved MyGov platform began failing on Monday morning, executives from the Digital Transformation Agency were conducting an industry briefing as part of a tender process...