News

Robodebt class action launched

The legal foundations of the controversial robodebt scheme will be tested in court as part of a new class action lawsuit that will argue the government’s use of an...

Digital economy gets renewed focus

The federal Industry department has quietly created a new Digital Economy and Technology division within AusIndustry, falling under deputy secretary Elizabeth Kelly. The renewed Industry focus on the digital...

Our billion-dollar AI opportunity

Like electricity, artificial intelligence (AI) is a general purpose technology that has the potential to drastically alter societies through its impact on economic and social structures. The AI revolution...

Gig economy fight moves to UberEats

The federal government needs to step up and stop the exploitation of Australian gig economy workers by global tech companies, the Transport Workers Union has said. The Transport Workers...

Facebook cranks up attack on ACCC

The competition watchdog’s landmark Digital Platforms Inquiry report does not understand the tech industry and has the potential to “adversely impact Australia’s economy”, Facebook has said in a scathing...

Name and shame on nation states

The federal government should make a routine of publicly attributing nation-state cyber attacks rather than leaving it to media leaks, according to ASPI’s Fergus Hanson, as a new report...

FinTechs get a new Senate focus

A senate committee has been formed to conduct a year-long inquiry into the Australian FinTech and RegTech industries as potential areas for further reform, with the expectation it will...

Tech giants hit back at ACCC report

Tech giants Google and Facebook have accused the Australian competition watchdog of going beyond its remit in its 18-month inquiry into digital platforms, and warned that its recommendations will...

Q-CTRL’s $22m great leap forward

Sydney-based quantum computing startup Q-CTRL has completed a $22 million Series A funding round (US$15 million) led by Australia’s largest venture firm Square Peg Capital, less than two years...

Biometric bill is ‘manifest danger’

The federal government needs to abandon its “sloppy and dangerous” facial recognition scheme that would impact the freedoms of all Australians, according to the Human Rights Legal Centre. The...

Sovereign capability the digital key

Australia’s tech sector – specifically its information and communication technology industry – is about half the size of its global peers as a proportion of GDP and ranks second...

$50m fund opens for manufacturing

The federal government’s $50 million advanced manufacturing fund for SMEs is now open for business, with grants of up to $1 million on offer for technology-based projects. It comes...

Gov’t to abolish innovation patents

The federal government’s plan to abolish the innovation patent system shows a “disturbing lack of understanding” of the business world and may stifle innovation, according to Centre Alliance senator...

Feds drive $15m data share pilot

The federal government has earmarked $15 million to create a national disability dataset, on the back of plans to introduce a consent-free public sector data sharing scheme. The agreement...