News

Fast-track tech visa has arrived

The launch of a new fast-tracked visa marks a new era for skilled migration, with the federal government actively seeking tech talent from around the world to live and...

Five-year itch for grant scheme

Entrepreneur Mark Blum co-founded his property tech startup Cognian Technologies in mid-2016, raising a friends and family investment round to fund a working prototype of its Synchromesh smart building...

Labor must make NBN its priority

Labor must make the NBN an election priority and in doing so position itself as the champion of consumers desperate for a better online experience, and as builders of...

Encryption forum delayed again

A public forum to discuss the government’s controversial encryption powers has been delayed for a second time as the independent security monitor calls for more submissions to its inquiry....

Tech’s push for a Bill of Rights

Australian governments should abandon plans for a nationwide facial recognition system and other controversial tech expansions until there is a charter of human rights, privacy and digital rights experts...

Albo’s focus on the future of work

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has promised a focus on new technologies and the future of work, as the Opposition looks towards the next election. In his first major policy...

Turnbull centre stage at StartCon

It’s not just the political junkies who are hanging out for Malcolm Turnbull’s autobiography A Bigger Picture to land in bookshops next year. Innovation policy wonks and anyone who...

ACCC sues Google over location data

The Australian competition watchdog is suing Google over the way the tech giant collects, keeps and uses the personal location data of its users. The Australian Competition and Consumer...

Gonski-led council on R&D investment

The New South Wales government aims to sharpen its focus on the deep tech end of the research and development spectrum with the appointment of a senior advisory council...

Face recognition for accessing porn?

The federal government has floated an idea to use its facial recognition technology to verify the age of Australians trying to access pornography online. In a submission to a...

Robo-debt risk of visa privatisation

The government’s controversial plan to privatise aspects of the visa system could lead to other disasters like the robo-debt scandal, the public sector union has warned. In a submission...

Consultant risk for new ServicesAus

The new Services Australia department provides an opportunity to improve the digital delivery of government services, but it cannot just replicate its NSW counterpart and rely on outsourcing, according...

Privacy trumps face recognition bill

The federal government’s plans for a national facial recognition system are in disarray after a bipartisan committee ordered the legislation be completely redrafted due to privacy and transparency concerns....

ACS restructures in narrowest vote

Australian Computer Society members have approved a comprehensive restructuring of the organisation by the narrowest of margins, with 75.1 per cent of the eligible voters approving the changes. The...