Last week, Australia’s new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced his government’s first full ministry, with Victorian member Clare O’Neil appointed Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Cyber Security. It’s the first time cyber security has had its own portfolio in the Australian cabinet. Former Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews was in charge of… Read more »
The first thing I want to say to you all, and it’s something we do not do enough, in terms of the parliamentary side of this equation tonight, I think either within our realm, or more generally, we do not say to you all, thank you. We don’t say it enough. Thank you very much… Read more »
Consumer group CHOICE is calling on the federal government to ramp up protections for mum and dad investors amid research that a fifth of all Australians are interested or have invested in cryptocurrency, with 12% – 1 in 9 – buying digital coins in the last 12 months. A CHOICE revealed that a majority of… Read more »
As the upcoming federal election campaign moves online, digital platforms and social media are gearing up to counter the spread of misleading information online. While politicians should play a responsible role, digital platforms also have a responsibility to take vigilant, careful action to identify and address misinformation and disinformation during the Australian election campaign, according… Read more »
Peak body the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) wants to government formed after the May federal election to create a new Cabinet level Minister for the Digital Economy. AIIA CEO Ron Gauci said technology is an essential driver to economic growth, creating jobs and making the nation globally competitive. While the Morrison government already has… Read more »
For many Australians, the promise of cheap, reliable broadband remains a dream. So why is the National Broadband Network (NBN) still not delivering an outcome that was promised more than a decade ago when the NBN rollout commenced? Let’s take a look at the current state of the NBN, and what the major political parties… Read more »
The government’s REDSPICE cyber security program – a $9.9 billion centrepiece to last week’s budget – has come at the cost of a $1.3 billion Sky Guardian drone project which has already set taxpayers back $10 million, senate estimates revealed on Friday. Despite the $9.9 billion headline figure championed by the Treasurer in his budget speech, a… Read more »
It’s a paradox. The Morrison government, in deep trouble, has produced a budget that’s shamelessly designed to try to buy votes. But Labor, censorious in its rhetoric, has found itself having to embrace the budget’s central measures. Anthony Albanese neatly summed up the situation in his Thursday night budget reply. “This government might as well… Read more »
It’s not every day you can buy at Australian politician, but digital assets fan and NSW Senator Andrew Bragg is offering someone that chance for good cause. Senator Bragg, who chaired the Senate Select Committee on Australia as a Technology and Financial Centre, advocating that Australia could be a cryptocurrency epicentre and world leader in… Read more »
I looked for the cybersecurity line items in the budget so you don’t have to. Initial Thoughts I commented in my corresponding post when last year’s budget was released that: “This (2021) budget continues the historical trend of spending a significant amount on national security, which includes cybersecurity, but having most of the money directed towards the… Read more »
There’s been a mixed reaction to the Morrison government’s last budget before the election. While The Tech Council of Australia welcomed the measures for small business offering additional tax deductions for employers who invest in digital skills training for their staff, while William Buck startup advisor and accountant Jack Qi gave the budget a “C-”… Read more »
Federal Budgets are always fun. Throw in accusations of election year pork-barrelling, the need to repay a huge public sector debt pile, war in Europe, the spectre of rising living costs and massive labour market shortages, we suddenly get a very messy picture indeed. It’s hard to know where to look. Last year we rated… Read more »
Peak industry lobby group The Tech Council of Australia (TCA) has praised the federal budget for its focus on small business digital adoption, skills. CEO Kate Pounder said the plan feeds into the TCA’s goal of getting more people into the tech sector. “We applaud the measures announced in the federal budget that support the… Read more »
With rising inflation, a war in Europe affecting global fuel costs, and ongoing supply strain issues, this year’s budget is shaped not just by the upcoming election but a growing cry in the community about the cost of living. But despite some significant multi-billion dollar spends within the next six months, the deficit is predicted… Read more »
When Josh Frydenberg says his key cost-of-living budget measures are “temporary” and “targeted”, he’s precisely right, though the reasons are more opportunistic than he’d spruik publicly. He says it’s all about giving help when it’s needed while not baking in long-term spending. But actually, and equally, the measures are aimed squarely at the imminent election,… Read more »
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