energy
Climate Tech

Global investors are fighting for a slice of Australia’s $7bn green bond. Here’s why that’s a good news

- June 17, 2024 3 MIN READ

You might think government debt is bad, but it actually plays a crucial role in modern finance. Back when he was treasurer, Peter Costello famously declared that April 21 2006 would be known as Australia’s “Debt Free Day”. On this day, he proclaimed, the Commonwealth would eliminate its net debt and “pay off the mortgage”.… Read more »

Politics

eSafety drops Federal Court case against Elon Musk’s X over bishop stabbing in favour of tribunal hearing

- June 5, 2024 2 MIN READ

Australian eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant has dropped her Federal Court action against social media platform X (formerly Twitter), no doubt hoping the in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal will be as sympathetic to her arguments as a similar tribunal in Queensland. The change in strategy comes are X owner Elon Musk last month won the… Read more »

People

Tech jobs are jostling for a place on the Australian government’s new skilled migration visa list

- June 5, 2024 2 MIN READ

Consultation is underway on whether a range of cyber security-related jobs should be added to Australia’s skilled migration visa list, as the sector faces a widening talent gap. The federal government’s Migration Strategy, unveiled late last year, handed Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) a formal role in developing the core skills occupations list, which will… Read more »

Politics

Here’s the good news in the federal government scrapping the Women in STEM Ambassador program

- June 5, 2024 3 MIN READ

Last week, Science and Industry Minister Ed Husic announced with little fanfare that the position of Australia’s Women in STEM Ambassador would be discontinued, effective three days later. The role was created in October 2018 “to encourage girls and women to study and work in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields”. Astrophysicist Lisa Harvey-Smith… Read more »

Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith
Politics

Science sector waits for government response to diversity review as minister Ed Husic tinkers with its findings

- May 31, 2024 3 MIN READ

Nearly four months after the landmark Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review, handed its final recommendations to industry and science minister Ed Husic and his department, the sector is still waiting for a formal response from the government. But this week, Husic implemented the first change in the wake of the report, calling time on the… Read more »

Politics

Victoria is holding a trial to investigate whether people on medicinal cannabis can drive safely

- May 21, 2024 2 MIN READ

The Victorian government has teamed up with Swinburne University to figure out if using doctor-prescribed medicinal cannabis when driving is a problem. The $4.9 million trial to determine if medicinal cannabis users can drive safely will take place over 18-months on a closed-circuit track that mimics real-world driving conditions. Researchers will review the ability of… Read more »

Deep tech
Politics

What deep tech founders need to know about the Budget

- May 17, 2024 3 MIN READ

To ensure our long-term economic prosperity, Australia must continue to develop and establish sovereign capabilities in future critical industries. “This requires aligning the nation on a bold and visionary future through policy levers focussed on long-term, transformational opportunities while also galvanising short-term action to address our current circumstances”, commented Cicada Innovations CEO Sally-Ann Williams.  Sally also… Read more »

Smart industry robot arms for digital factory manufacturing, Industry 4.0
Politics

More innovation and diversity is needed in tech if the government really wants a ‘future made in Australia’

- May 17, 2024 3 MIN READ

This year’s federal budget is making up for decades of lost time – both in our clean energy transition and in betting on new technological breakthroughs. The Future Made in Australia Act holds tantalising potential for building Australian science, research and development. The aim is to turn Australia into an innovation and clean technology superpower.… Read more »

Passport, Australian immigration
Politics

Australia scraps Global Talent visa for National Innovation one amid immigration cuts

- May 16, 2024 2 MIN READ

The tech and talent migration programs will be scrapped and replaced with a new National Innovation Visa under major federal budget reforms that will ensure 70% of permanent migration places are set aside for skilled workers. Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the 2024-25 federal budget in Canberra on Tuesday night, outlining a significant overhaul to… Read more »

Carolyn Breeze
Politics

Budget 2024: Tech sector reactions

- May 15, 2024 11 MIN READ

The answer to “how to you eat a shit sandwich?” when it comes to politics is: “With a grin”. The startup sector put on a brave face tonight following the 2024 federal budget. There were some big ticket items, but two years into its 3-year term, Labor offered little to tech specifically as it focused… Read more »

Breaking Bad, money pile
Funding

Budget 2024: It seems the federal government went dutch with Queensland on the $940 million PsiQuantum deal, but the really surprising part is a $28m fine print cost

- May 14, 2024 2 MIN READ

We now know how much the federal government is spending to bring PsiQuantum, the California-based quantum computing company with Australian founders, to Brisbane. Well, almost. The budget says $466.4 million in equity and loans from Export Finance Australia on the National Interest Account. And it seems that a fair slab is a loan “estimated to exceed… Read more »