Tag: Senate Estimates

‘Honeypot’: Chief Scientist backs local mRNA manufacturing

Posted on   |  by Joseph Brookes
Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley has backed the domestic manufacturing of US-developed mRNA vaccines, likening the new capability as a “honeypot” which will have benefits beyond Covid-19 and...

‘Tremendous failure’: Labor on local RAT manufacturing

Posted on   |  by Denham Sadler
The Opposition says government missed a significant opportunity to rebuild Australian manufacturing around vaccines and rapid antigen tests, labelling the Coalition’s flagship $1.2 billion Modern Manufacturing Fund a “complete...

Govt senators ask CSIRO to justify plant-based protein work

Posted on   |  by Joseph Brookes
The national science agency has had to defend itself against accusations from government senators of an “anti-animal” influence on its research and investments, following a campaign by farming groups...

Govt paid McKinsey $6m for net-zero modelling work

Posted on   |  by Denham Sadler
The federal government paid US consulting giant McKinsey more than $6 million across this year to provide key modelling work for its technology-driven net-zero plan. Prime Minister Scott Morrison...

Agencies ‘hunting every night’ with offensive cyber capabilities

Posted on   |  by Denham Sadler
Australia’s spy agency is “going hunting” for ransomware gangs “every night”, according to Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo, who has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to an offensive cyber capability....

McKinsey gets another $2m for mRNA vaccine help

Posted on   |  by Denham Sadler
The federal government has awarded McKinsey another $2 million contract to assist with its efforts to establish an onshore mRNA vaccine manufacturing capability, after the consulting giant developed a...

‘Large reduction’ in DTA funding and responsibilities

Posted on   |  by Denham Sadler
There has been a “large reduction” in the Digital Transformation Agency’s funding and responsibilities, with a number of its key projects moved to other agencies, its chief executive Randall...

Govt spending $250,000 each month on NDIS app

Posted on   |  by Denham Sadler
The federal government is spending just under $250,000 every month on developing a new NDIS app, as debate around the financial “sustainability” of the scheme continues. Questions have also...