News

Age assurance trial casts wide net for world-first scheme

Foreign technology firms will dominate the federal government’s trial of age assurance technologies, bringing with them dozens of cutting-edge solutions like hand and face scanning, and in many cases...

Aged care tech under the microscope as switch looms

Aged care providers’ technology will be examined by a government-led taskforce in preparation for major changes to systems, amid concerns some companies are under prepared for landmark reforms. The...

Health re-ups with Salesforce for vaccine data

The Health department has signed up for another year of Salesforce to help manage its COVID-19 vaccine data, after tightening assurance controls to verify its technology suppliers’ data security...

Govt urged to act on food manufacturing

The Albanese government is being urged to fund innovation precincts and shared manufacturing facilities in a new national effort on food and beverage production that an inquiry found has...

Gig Guide: NSW appoints its next cyber chief

The New South Wales government has tapped Sydney Metro enterprise security leader Marie Patane to take over the challenging role of securing the state’s critical systems and data holdings....

Too slow: Claire Chandler needles govt on AI plans

The federal government has dragged its heels on developing regulatory frameworks for AI and has not been transparent with the business community about its intentions, newly-appointed shadow minister for...

Govt carves out $1bn for green iron play

The Albanese government will invest $1 billion into green iron in a bid to jump start the sector, reduce emissions and revitalise the struggling Whyalla steelworks, the Prime Minister...

The Aussie connection to Microsoft’s quantum leap

Australian research into topoconductors was crucial to the development of a new type of chip that Microsoft says makes useful quantum computers a reality “in years, not decades”. The...

Govt backs ‘breakthrough’ battery powder facility with $30m

Queensland manufacturer VSPC will build a demonstration plant to produce cathode powder for lithium-ion batteries after the federal government committed $30 million to the venture on Thursday. The funding...

NSW govt ordered to produce innovation plans

The NSW government has been ordered to release documents related to its overhaul of innovation policy, as a lengthy wait for a new state plan and cutbacks to grant...

ASIO chief warns AI tech is accelerating security challenges

ASIO chief Mike Burgess has delivered a “frank, uncomfortable” assessment of national security challenges, and says rapidly evolving technology – from artificial intelligence to encryption – will make the...

Govt’s manufacturing plans missing in action

The government has delivered only one of seven promised plans for developing priority areas of the economy, despite launching the first almost a year ago and billing the plans...