News

Politics and cultural inertia stymie procurement reform

There is surely no more challenging federal issue in need of urgent reform than tech procurement policy. It is the giant industry development policy lever sitting in plain sight,...

$150m package to sustain WA battery material dream

Lithium processors will not have to pay dues to the Western Australian government for the next two years as part of a $150 million package to keep the battery...

Legacy tech reaches ‘scary’ levels as govts look away

A “scary” level of legacy tech debt is building in governments across the country as ministers put off costly upgrades to frontline systems trusted by thousands of public servants....

Senate demands more PsiQuantum details

The Senate is demanding Industry minister Ed Husic hand over more details about the process that led to a $1 billion public investment in PsiQuantum, including the US firm’s unsolicited...

WA awards $3.5m grant for satellite assembly facility

The Western Australian government has awarded earth observation satellite company LatConnect 60 a $3.5 million grant to help develop the state’s first local commercial satellite assembly facility. The facility...

NSW govt unlocks new technology procurement guidance

NSW public servants have been given the green light to look past off-the-shelf technology and pursue more innovative solutions in new guidance that makes it easier for agencies to...

Research unleashed through $342m Discovery Projects round

More than 500 basic and applied research projects have shared in $342 million in federal funding to explore areas like high energy batteries, digital inclusion, more climate resilient crops...

Experts seek support for more IoT driven aged care

Government support that helps older Australians remain in their homes and still receive care falls “woefully short” of what’s required to integrate internet-connected devices, according to a university-backed consortium....

Tasmania ramps up innovation ambition with strategic plan

The Tasmanian government is leaning into its innovation tilt with the plans for a new Advanced Technology Industries Strategy that promises to leverage the state’s unique geographic location. According...

‘Frontrunning’ fears over NRF’s first $40m deal

A media drop and alleged leak has put the corporation in charge of the government’s $15 billion manufacturing fund under scrutiny at its first Senate Estimates appearance since its...

Australia’s first Cybersecurity Bill passes Parliament

Australia’s first standalone Cybersecurity Bill has passed into law, introducing a mandatory ransomware reporting regime and protections for businesses that cooperate with authorities in the aftermath of a cyber-attack....