Politics Archives

Here’s what the major parties and key independents are saying about their commitments to tech and science

Startup Daily - May 18, 2022 2 MIN READ

Peak industry body Science & Technology Australia has asked the political parties and independents standing in this Saturday’s federal ballot for their positions on 10 election priorities for the sector. The sector’s priorities identify major science and technology policy settings and investments needed for Australia to seize crucial opportunities. Whether the pledges of current and… Read more »

Politics

Australia doesn’t have a strategy for moving to clean transport quickly – so we wrote this plan

The Conversation - May 12, 2022 4 MIN READ

Australia has no clear strategy to decarbonise transport. That’s a problem, because without a plan, our take-up of clean technologies like electric cars, trucks and buses is slow. It’s stopping us from meeting our climate commitments. And it leaves us paying exorbitant prices for imported oil at the fuel pump, as well as in the… Read more »

Politics

NSW has set out a 20-year roadmap to ramp up critical R&D

David Braue - May 6, 2022 3 MIN READ

With research and development investment lagging Victoria and the OECD, New South Wales is doubling down on its competitive advantages in areas like AI, quantum computing, and nanotechnology, the state’s head scientist revealed in launching the state’s new 20-year R&D strategy. The NSW 20-Year R&D Roadmap – whose creation was recommended as part of the state government’s… Read more »

Politics

Labor pledges to double investment in electric and hydrogen vehicles to $500 million if it wins the election

Simon Thomsen - May 2, 2022 2 MIN READ

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has pledged to double the government’s $250 million Future Fuels Fund to $500 million to boost electric vehicle uptake and infrastructure if it wins the federal election on May 21. The ALP’s ‘Driving the Nation’ policy also embraces hydrogen vehicles and infrastructure, and hopes to make EVs more affordable and easier to charge, as… Read more »

Politics

How digital platforms are tackling Australia’s election campaign in the age of misinformation

Rosalyn Page, Information Age - April 25, 2022 4 MIN READ

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 »

Politics

IT peak body AIIA calls for Cabinet-level Digital Economy minister in the next Australian government

Simon Thomsen - April 11, 2022 3 MIN READ

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 »

Politics

Here’s what the government and opposition are promising for the NBN ahead of the election

Mark Gregory - April 11, 2022 5 MIN READ

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 »

Politics

$1.3 billion defence drone project canned as Budget spends $10 billion on boosting offensive cybersecurity capabilities

Casey Tonkin, Information Age - April 7, 2022 2 MIN READ

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 »

Politics

Labor focus on aged care in small target response to budget

Michelle Grattan - April 1, 2022 4 MIN READ

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 »

Politics

‘A grim outcome’: startup and tech sector reactions to the 2022 Budget measures

Simon Thomsen - March 30, 2022 15 MIN READ

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 »

Politics

William Buck’s Jack Qi gives the Budget a C minus for startup founders: what you need to know

Jack Qi - March 30, 2022 4 MIN READ

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 »

Politics

Tech Council praises Budget’s ‘significant investment’ in digital skills

Simon Thomsen - March 30, 2022 2 MIN READ

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 »

Politics

BUDGET 2022: What’s in it for tech, digital transformation and startups

Simon Thomsen - March 30, 2022 3 MIN READ

The 2022 pre-election budget was filled with plenty of promises of fast cash for voters ahead of the May election. But in terms of the tech sector’s Budget wish list, the focus for digital transformation in Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s fourth budget is squarely on small business with increased tax concessions for small businesses that invest… Read more »

Politics

The cost-of-living election budget: the key things you need to know

The Conversation - March 29, 2022 2 MIN READ

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 »

Politics

The election bribes budget: cash sweeteners for voters to stick with the Coalition

Michelle Grattan - March 29, 2022 3 MIN READ

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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