SA Govt CIO to fix Victoria’s IT nightmare
The Victorian State Government has appointed Grantley Mailes, a former whole of government chief information officer for sister state South Australia, to lead a committee to establish a new wide-ranging IT strategy to resolve Victoria's ongoing problems with IT service and project delivery.
Hacks focus CIOs on IT security
After the spate of high-profile hacking incidents in 2011, Australian CIOs and IT and security managers are taking no chances this year. According to new research by local analyst firm Telsyte, Australian enterprises will increase their security spending and change their information security strategies in 2012.
Former US Govt CIO in Aussie speaking tour
Former US whole of government chief information officer Vivek Kundra will hit Australia over the next several weeks for a speaking tour that will include events for his new employer Salesforce.com, as well as the Australian Information Industry Association.
New Qld CIO defends Govt IT debacles
Queensland's new whole of government chief information officer Peter Grant has defended the state's record on major IT projects in his first interview since taking the position in December last year.
UTS creates new CIO role
The University of Technology, Sydney, has kicked off a hiring process for a newly created chief information officer position to help it with a substantial investment program associated with its campus located just outside the Sydney central business district.
Mills slams ‘failed re-run’ Qld CIO appointment
Bruce Mills' Outsourcing Council Asia Pacific (OCAP) has severely criticised the Queensland State Government’s appointment last week of Peter Grant as the new whole-of-government Chief Information Officer.
Westpac appoints McKinnon lieutenant Whincup CIO
Top tier bank Westpac has appointed one of Bob McKinnon's top lieutenants, UK import Clive Whincup, to succeed him as chief information officer.
Qld picks new whole of government CIO
The Queensland State Government has appointed a new whole of government chief information officer, with industry insiders naming former state CIO Peter Grant as the most likely candidate to have returned to the role.
CIO McKinnon steps back from Westpac top role
A new organisation structure at Westpac means Bob McKinnon, who directed the rebuilding of technology capability as its IT chief, is stepping back from a major role in the bank.
The election is over, and Fibre to the Node is here to stay
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has declared victory in the hard-fought Federal Election, in a move that ensures that the controversial Fibre to the Node technology which Turnbull personally favours is here to stay as a core part of the National Broadband Network.
Liberal MP misleads Parliament with NBN motion
Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis has moved a motion in the House of Representatives which appears to contain demonstrably false information about Labor's National Broadband Network policy, in a controversial move which caused instant uproar on the part of Labor figures focused on the NBN policy.
Hacker luminary to hit Melbourne for speech
Jacob Appelbaum, independent computer security researcher and hacker, will be visiting Australia soon, with one item on his schedule being a ‘War on the Internet’ event, scheduled for 21 January, 2012 at Trades Hall, Melbourne between 3pm and 5 pm. Supported by the Australian Greens Party and Electronic Frontiers Australia, the event will have speakers “challenging gatekeepers and proposing alternatives to the weaponisation of cyberspace.”
Telstra offshores 326 more call centre jobs
The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has condemned Telstra for its decision to sack 326 Australian workers and send some of those jobs overseas.
Telstra rejects Choice’s unfavourable price comparison as “flawed”
Telstra has said that a price comparison of some of its mobile and Internet plans that suggested consumers are paying a premium of up to 92% over other telcos' products is "flawed".
Consumers paying up to 92% more with Telstra, says Choice
Choice, the not-for-profit consumer advocacy group, has said that consumers are paying "up to a 92% price premium" to access Telstra’s network, which has experienced a number of major outages in the last six months.
IT firm Geek helps Adelaide accountants beat CryptoLocker attack
Australian IT services firm Geek said it has helped an Adelaide accounting firm recover from a CryptoLocker malware attack in "just 15 minutes" using a US security product called Datto.
Photos: Fujitsu opens Perth datacentre with sake for all
IT services giant Fujitsu this week opened what it billed as the nation's most advanced datacentre in Perth, signing up Commonwealth Bank subsidiary Bankwest as a key customer. The facility comprises 8000 square metres of tier three datacentre space, with three main general data halls and three smaller halls for companies requiring dedicated private suites.
Optus to refund $2.4m over mobile insurance breaches
Optus is being forced to refund around $2.4 million to around 175,000 of its mobile customers following the Australian Securities & Investments Commission's (ASIC's) concerns about the telco's compliance with financial services laws.
Telstra kicks off recruitment program to deal with NBN HFC contract
Telstra has launched an internal recruitment programme aimed to fulfil workforce needs as the firm prepares to design and manage the upgrade of its former hybrid-fibre coaxial (HFC) cable TV network as part of the NBN roll-out.
Good Guys partners with Airtasker on home installation
Household appliance retailer The Good Guys has partnered with local services marketplace Airtasker on a new appliance installation web platform that is more customer-focused yet still makes use of The Good Guys’ existing Australian installer network.
KPMG launches fintech startup accelerator for corporates
KPMG Australia has announced the launch of a corporate-focused accelerator called mLabs that is intended to connect mutual banks and credit unions with Australian fintech startups.
Rapper launches song slamming Turnbull’s FTTN network
A rapper called LLK recently released her first solo track, with lyrics that pull no punches in their criticism of the National Broadband Network's multi-mix technology policy.
Telstra employs drones to inspect mobile towers
Telstra has announced that it is using unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, to inspect its mobile towers, and said that the technology has "enormous potential" to change the way Australians work.
Microsoft to offer Win10 as a service for businesses
Microsoft has announced that it will soon be offering Windows 10 as a service for enterprises through its Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) channel.
IT firms dominate stock market listings, report says
An OnMarket report has revealed not only that IPOs in Australia are delivering some unusually high returns to investors, but that IT firms are now dominating stock market listings over all other sectors.
NBN takes on delivery partners to deploy HFC network
NBN Co has inked deals with six delivery partners to deliver its growing broadband network to premises sitting within Telstra's hybrid-fibre coaxial (HFC) cable footprint.
Android Pay launches in Australia
Android Pay has now gone live in Australia, allowing smartphone users to pay for items anywhere contactless payments are accepted.
Move to FTTP viable but threatened by NBN monopoly, says Budde
It could be economically viable for Australia to eventually shift from fibre to the node (FTTN) to fibre to the home (FTTH), but the lack of commercial competition could be an impediment, telecoms expert Paul Budde has said.
Telstra buys MSC Mobility to boost enterprise mobility focus
Telstra has announced it is acquiring long-term partner MSC Mobility (MSC), a provider of mobile device solutions for businesses in Australia, in a move that is designed to enhance the telco's enterprise mobility capabilities.
AT&T expands gigabit business fibre at cities across US
AT&T is giving a speed boost to its Business Fiber internet services in a long list of US markets, including San Francisco, Miami and Dallas.
US Court: Microsoft can’t be forced to hand over overseas emails
A US Court has ruled that Microsoft cannot be forced hand over emails stored overseas even for domestic search warrants issued as part of criminal investigations.
Atlassian acquires StatusPage
Software giant Atlassian has announced the acquisition of its long-term partner StatusPage, a provider of status and incident communication services.
TPG launches unlimited HFC NBN plans from $59.99
Internet provider TPG has announced a number of broadband plus phone plans offering unlimited NBN via hybrid-fibre coaxial (HFC) cable starting at $59.99.
StartupAUS welcomes Turnbull’s new innovation ministers
StartupAUS, the technology entrepreneurship advocacy group, has welcomed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's new innovation ministers, appointed as part of a post-election Cabinet reshuffle.
Deloitte buys IT firm Sixtree to boost tech offerings
Professional services giant Deloitte has announced the acquisition of IT integration specialist firm Sixtree, calling the move "another strategic investment and building block" for the firm’s technology practice and business solutions.
NBN in Tasmania “58% complete”
NBN Co has announced that passing of a "major construction milestone", with over half of Tasmanian premises now being able to connect to broadband services over the NBN network.
Macquarie Bank planning OpenStack cloud solution with “large vendor”
Macquarie Bank has indicated that it is planning the development of a cloud infrastructure based on OpenStack – an open-source cloud operating system.
Telstra launches multi-cloud management platform
Telstra has launched a cloud management platform aimed to help businesses with the operation of hybrid cloud environments.
Amaysim buys AusBBS to capitalise on NBN market
Mobile SIM card company Amaysim Australia has announced its entry into the broadband market via the acquisition of Internet service provider Australian Broadband Services (AusBBS).
Non-profit Internet of Things Alliance launches in Sydney
A new not-for-profit entity called the Internet of Things Alliance Australia (IoTAA) has been launched in Sydney by Shadow Minister for Communications Jason Clare.
Crowdfunding campaign launched for book on “forgotten” Australian inventor
A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to help publish a new book on Australian inventor Henry Sutton – a self-taught engineer and inventor from Ballarat.
Not a “flop”: Hunt defends Turnbull’s innovation push
Newly appointed Minister for Innovation, Industry and Science Greg Hunt has defended the government's emphasis on innovation after its Federal Election campaigning on the issue was described as a "flop".
Spirit Telecom continues fibre rollout at up to 400Mbps
Fibre-optic broadband provider Spirit Telecom has released a shareholder update to the market, stating that it continues to expand its superfast broadband service to new buildings and that it is considering making acquisitions that would "complement" the firm's direction.
ACCC invites feedback on NBN Co’s proposal to expand remit
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has published a consultation paper inviting feedback on NBN Co’s proposed variation to the way it provides services over the national broadband network.
ACCC approves Telstra’s variation to NBN Migration Plan
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has approved Telstra’s variation to the Migration Plan, which is aimed to further protect customers and maintain services as the firm shifts to the national broadband network.
Queensland Police starts body-worn camera rollout
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) has announced it is rolling out body-worn cameras (BWCs) for frontline police across the state.
Fibre optic broadband to last 50 years, says Budde
While technology is generally advancing at a furious pace, fibre optic broadband has nothing that is likely to replace it for as much as 50 years, telecoms expert Paul Budde has said.
Telstra calls for USO to be maintained
Telstra has said that the universal service obligation (USO), which guarantees that every Australian has reasonable access to a phone, should not be abandoned.
Telstra boosts 4G capacity in some areas
Telstra has expanded its 4G mobile capacity in North Queensland and South Australia, with "up to 200 sites receiving up to 50% more capacity", the firm said.
Michelle Rowland appointed Shadow Minister for Communications
Labor MP Michelle Rowland has been appointed to the Shadow Cabinet, taking on the role of Shadow Minister for Communications.
NBN to boost HFC broadband with DOCSIS 3.1 in 2017
NBN Co has revealed that it plans to launch super-fast HFC broadband services next year using DOCSIS 3.1 – a new technology that can produce up to 10 Gbps symmetrical data speeds over the hybrid fibre-copper cable networks.
Virgin to launch in-flight Wi-Fi next year
Virgin Australia has announced it will introduce inflight Wi-Fi on its domestic and international fleet from next year.
Optus signs ICT services deal with QBE
Optus Business has inked a new three-year ICT services deal with QBE Australia to deliver voice, mobile and data network services for the insurance multinational.
NBN’s second satellite to launch in October
NBN Co has started the count down to the launch of its second telecoms satellite, which it has announced will take place on 5 October.
Internet Australia says broadband should be human right
Internet Australia, the peak body representing Internet users, has said the telecommunications Universal Service Obligation (USO) should be expanded to include the right for citizens to have Internet access via "fast and affordable" broadband.
Qld Govt invests $1 million in drone tech
The Queensland Government has invested $1m in drone technology – a move that the State Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said will lead to 100 new aerospace industry jobs.
ACCC calls for better broadband speed information
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has called for consumers to be provided with better information about broadband speeds.
Unions challenge Telstra on redeployment during redundancy rounds
The Communication Workers Unions (CWU) has challenged Telstra over low rates of redeployment, even though the firm has powers to move people into new roles under the current enterprise agreement (EA).
Data#3 deploys Cisco network for Edith Cowan
Australian technology provider Data#3 has announced the deployment of a "next-generation" Cisco network service for Edith Cowan University (ECU).
Qld Govt invests in open data, startups, STEM
The Queensland Government made a number of announcements yesterday revealing how the state is investing in a number of areas, including open data, innovative startups and STEM training for teachers.
DTO celebrates achievements in first year
The Digital Transformation Office (DTO) has celebrated its first birthday with a blog post penned by CEO Paul Shetler looking back at the "highlights and milestones" of its inaugural year.
iiNet launches unlimited NBN plans
iiNet has announced a trio of new plans offering limitless data on the NBN, starting at $69.99 a month.
Banks team up to deal with Apple Pay
In a move that looks likely aimed at countering the threat from mobile payments apps like Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, a group of Australian banks has applied to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for authorisation to enter joint negotiations with providers of third-party mobile wallets.
Tesla Powerwall helps slash electricity bill for early adopter family
One of the first Australian residents to install the Tesla Powerwall power storage unit has had its power bill slashed by over 10% in its first quarter.
4.6 million jobs “at risk” without future-ready workforce
According to StartupAUS, an advocacy group for startups, up to 4.6 million Australian jobs may be at risk within a decade if Australia fails to create a future-ready workforce.
Vodafone CTO quits to join Hutchison
Benoit Hanssen, Chief Technology Officer at Vodafone Hutchison Australia, is to leave the company late next month for a post with the Hutchison group.
Premier announces “technology revolution” for Victoria Police
Victoria’s frontline police men and women will soon be kitted out with state-of-the-art mobile technology intended to bring about a "technology revolution", thanks to funding allocated in the latest state budget.
ACCC opens up superfast broadband to competition
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has announced it is opening up the wholesale superfast broadband services to competition with the declaration of a five-year "superfast broadband access service".
Deakin Uni addresses student needs with Citrix cloud
Victoria's Deakin University has deployed a cloud platform based on Citrix technology in order to provide a solution for the evolving needs of its 53,000 students, Citrix has announced.
Visionstream secures $250M Telstra ‘wideband’ contract
Visionstream, a services provider to the telecoms industry, has inked a new deal with Telstra to extend its delivery of 'wideband' services across Australia.
Vodafone announces continued “solid growth” in 2016
Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) has announced continued "solid growth" during the first six months of the year, with both customer base and earnings on the rise.
Oracle to buy NetSuite
Oracle has entered into an agreement to acquire US-based cloud solutions provider NetSuite at a cost of approximately US$9.3 billion (AU$12.34 billion) in cash.
MYOB acquires Greentree in bid for growth
MYOB, a provider of online business management solutions, has announced the acquisition of resource planning software group Greentree at a cost of NZ$28.5 million (AU$27.12 million).
SA Police invests in facial recognition technology
South Australia Police (SAPOL) has invested $780,000 in facial recognition software to be provided by NEC Australia.
auDA appoints policy development veteran as new CEO
.au Domain Administration (auDA) – the policy authority and industry self-regulatory body for the .au domain space – has announced that policy development veteran Cameron Boardman has been appointed as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Brennan IT selects Commvault and Huawei for backup-as-a-service
Brennan IT, an IT and telecoms managed services provider, has deployed a "scalable and flexible" backup-as-a-service solution utilising Commvault software and support, alongside Huawei OceanStor hardware.
Datacom launches “National Network” of datacentres
Datacom has launched what it calls its "National Network" of interconnected data centres and digital assets.
Government role in NBN needs “re-evaluation”, says US think tank
The Technology Policy Institute, a US-based think tank, has published a paper on the NBN concluding that, while the network was set up to increase competition in the broadband sector, as well as boost quality and lower prices, it has evolved into a "intrusive policy subject to political pressures".
VMware appoints new Asia-Pacific chief
Virtualisation giant VMware has announced the hiring of a new regional chief for the Asia Pacific and Japan.
Vodafone announces Samsung Galaxy Note 7 pricing
Vodafone has announced details of its pricing strategy for Samsung's high-spec Galaxy offering, the Note7, which will be available for preorder online from 5 August at 12.01am.
Cox is rolling out gigabit broadband across its US markets
US-based telco and entertainment provider Cox Communications has announced the launch of a gigabit Internet service for residential customers called "G1GABLASTSM", that it claims offers speeds "100 times faster" than the average speed in the country.
Lockheed Martin to establish R&D facility in Melbourne
Multinational security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin has revealed that it is to set up a multi-disciplinary research and development facility in Melbourne.
Telstra plans 5G trial with Ericsson tech
Telstra has announced it will soon be testing 5G with Ericsson's radio test bed to examine the potential of the technology.
USO scope should be broadened, says ACCAN
The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has said the Universal Service Obligation (USO) needs an "expanded scope", as well as measures to increase affordability and inclusion for people with disabilities to ensure all consumers have access to essential communications services.
ThoughtWorks slams ABS for census data retention “risk”
Global software consultancy ThoughtWorks has strongly criticised the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for "risk" it took in the running of the Australian Census 2016, which saw the body retain the details of millions of people.
‘Big four’ bank invests $1 million in secure coding skills
A "major Australian Big Four bank" has signed a $1 million, three-year deal with a startup called Secure Code Warrior to boost the secure coding skills of 4,000 of its software developers.
Telstra to offshore over 170 more jobs, says union
Telstra is planning to offshore over 170 more jobs, according to the Communication Workers Union (CWU).
Former Telstra staffer criticises offshoring initiatives
Former long-term Telstra staff member Rod Bruem has criticised the “massive wave" of offshoring that has occurred under the last two CEOs.
Atlassian announces massive revenue jump
Atlassian, the Sydney-founded provider of team collaboration and productivity software, has announced a spike in revenue in its latest financial results.
ACCC to undertake market study of the communications sector
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has said that its next market study will focus issues affecting the Australian communications sector.
Xenophon boycotts name details in census protest
Nick Xenophon, Independent Senator for South Australia, has said he will fight for the right to privacy by refusing to provide his name in the 2016 census, despite the risk of prosecution the protest will bring.
Greens call on ABS to rule out census fines
The Australian Greens have called for the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to "rule out" fines for people that do not wish to provide their name and address when completing their census forms.
Tech can help Australians achieve life goals, says NBN report
NBN Co has released a new report that takes a look at Australia’s top life goals and how technology can help us achieve them.
Turnbull partners with Pollenizer on data startup plan
An open data initiative named DataStart has been brought about by the collaboration of Malcolm Turnbull's Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet with an established Australian incubator, Pollenizer, to support data-driven innovation in Australia.
Turnbull’s NBN blowout caused by MTM, says Quigley
Former NBN Co chief executive Mike Quigley has stated that the up to $15 billion blowout in the cost of the National Broadband Network was due to the Multi-Technology Mix imposed by Malcolm Turnbull, using previous comprehensive audits of the company as evidence.
Govt email may not be more secure, says Turnbull
Malcolm Turnbull has advised the public not to assume that Government email services are more secure than private systems, in the wake of news that the new Prime Minister will continue to use non-Government email and instant messaging platforms for communication.
Fletcher praises Turnbull’s “fact-based” NBN approach
Malcolm Turnbull’s outgoing Parliamentary Secretary Paul Fletcher has publicly praised what he described as the new Prime Minister’s “fact-based” approach to revamping Labor’s National Broadband Network project over the past two years.
Turnbull tries to accelerate mobile blackspot fix for Canning by-election
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has reportedly promised to attempt to intervene in the Government’s Mobile Black Spot Programme to accelerate the deployment of a mobile tower in Dwellingup in Western Australia, in what appears to be an effort to boost the Liberal Party's chances in the Canning by-election in the state.
Turnbull, Macfarlane praise NICTA, CSIRO merger after cutting funding to “the bone”
Two senior Government Ministers have praised the merger and research credentials of Australia’s peak scientific and IT research organisations, despite having simultaneously cut the groups’ funding levels to a level described as “to the bone”, causing the merger and the potential loss of several hundred jobs.
Turnbull has “no-one else to blame”, Labor says on NBN cost blow-outs
The Opposition has blamed the up to $15 billion National Broadband Network funding blow-out revealed this morning on “poor decisions” and “wrong assumptions” made by Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull during his stewardship of the project, as the war of words between the major parties on the issue ramps up.
NBN overbuild based on “fairer competition”, says Turnbull
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has issued a statement to the effect that the NBN company’s alleged “overbuilding” activities were based on regulatory decisions to ensure “fairer” competition in the broadband market that would allow the NBN company to compete with commercial providers.
Turnbull allows Aussie TV stations to broadcast in HD
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has introduced a bill which would allow Australia’s free to air television stations to broadcast their primary channel in high definition, in a long-awaited move which will finally unlock the full potential of Australia’s huge fleet of HD-capable television screens.
NBN Co overbuilding Turnbull’s 100Mbps FTTN election case study
The NBN company appears to be deploying its own competitive infrastructure to a housing estate in Sydney which Malcolm Turnbull specifically used during the 2013 Federal Election to highlight the strengths of his chosen Fibre to the Node technology.
Turnbull to hold anti-filter forum
Liberal MP Malcolm Turnbull has revealed plans to host a forum against Labor's mandatory internet filter policy this Saturday in his electorate, dragging in an old colleague -- former OzEmail and Telstra chief Justin Milne -- to help with proceedings.
Australia doesn’t want 100Mbps internet, says Turnbull
High-profile Liberal MP Malcolm Turnbull has slammed Labor’s National Broadband Network Policy in an impassioned speech, describing it as “a gigantic torching of taxpayers’ money” and claiming most of Australia doesn’t want 100Mbps fibre internet.
Filter will be “exorcised” if it returns, says Turnbull
Liberal MPs Malcolm Turnbull and Paul Fletcher flayed Labor’s mandatory internet filter project at an anti-filter forum held by the former Opposition Leader on Saturday in Sydney, where not a single voice was raised in praise of the controversial policy and Turnbull claimed the idea was now in the past.
Abbott is a Luddite, says Conroy
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy this afternoon opened fire on Tony Abbott, labelling him a "luddite" for not having appearing to have anything to do with his party's technology policies, on a day in which the Canberra press gallery also criticised the Opposition Leader on the issue.
“I’m no Bill Gates,” says Tony Abbott
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott last night declared he was “no Bill Gates” in a lengthy interview on the ABC's 7:30 Report in which he appeared to display a lack of understanding of the Coalition's new broadband policy unveiled yesterday morning and repeatedly explained he was “no tech-head”.
CONROY’S NEW NEMESIS: Malcolm Turnbull
Former Opposition Leader Malcom Turnbull has been appointed Shadow Communications Minister, taking over the portfolio from Tony Smith who has been demoted to parliamentary secretary. Turnbull will now face Communications Minister Stephen Conroy on the National Broadband Network (NBN) battleground.
“Internet junkie” Turnbull comes out swinging
Mere hours after he was appointed Shadow Communications Minister, Liberal stalwart Malcolm Turnbull has come out swinging in the portfolio, slamming Labor's National Broadband Network and filter projects and describing himself as "an internet junkie".
NBN: Abbott sicks Turnbull on independents
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott this morning said one of Malcolm's roles as the new Shadow Communications Minister would be to expose problems with Labor's National Broadband Network project, with the aim of wooing independent MPs back to the Coalition's camp.
Ludlam warns Turnbull: Don’t be a “NBN wrecker”
Greens Communications Spokesman Scott Ludlam today welcomed Malcolm Turnbull's appointment as Shadow Communications Minister but warned the Liberal heavyweight against "wrecking" Labor's National Broadband Network project.
Turnbull just opposes everything, claims Conroy
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy this afternoon returned fire back on his new shadow, Malcolm Turnbull, accusing the Liberal heavyweight of mindless opposition on the National Broadband Network issue.
Business chiefs call for NBN cost/benefit analysis
A number of senior Australian business leaders have backed Malcolm Turnbull's call for the Government to conduct a cost/benefit analysis into its prized National Broadband Network project.
Telstra: No preference on NBN opt-out
Telstra chief executive David Thodey this afternoon said that the telco had no real preference as to whether Australians should be forced to “opt-out” of the National Broadband Network rather than opt in, in the wake of a decision this week by the Tasmanian Government to pursue such a policy through legislation.
“NBN or nothing” is a false dichotomy, says Turnbull
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has lambasted the justification behind Labor's National Broadband Network project as featuring a series of false dichotomies between a glorious fibre future and a world where Australians are starved for broadband.
Brisbane commits to fibre rollout
Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman today reportedly confirmed the city would roll out fibre broadband to homes around the city, in a move that sparked a mixed reaction from Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.
Turnbull files private members’ bill for NBN transparency
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull today revealed he had garnered Coalition support for a private member's bill that would force Labor to disclose key financial details of its flagship National Broadband Network project and conduct a cost/benefit analysis into its construction.
Stop delaying the NBN, Conroy tells Turnbull
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has issued a pointed response to Malcolm Turnbull's demand for more transparency on the National Broadband Network project, claiming his shadow was only interested in delaying the flagship Labor initiative.
Telstra bill hits parliament, supported by … Telstra
Labor has reintroduced its controversial telecommunications industry overhaul legislation back into parliament, backed by heavy-hitting statements about the bill's necessity by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy and Telstra itself.
Coalition tiptoes around Telstra break-up bill
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday said the Coalition would oppose parts of Labor’s controversial legislation to restructure the telecommunicatons sector and break up Telstra – but would welcome other sections that it found logical.
Turnbull’s NBN transparency bill hits parliament
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has tabled in parliament his brief piece of legislation designed to force the Government into disclosing key financial details of its flagship National Broadband Network project and conducting a cost/benefit analysis into its construction.
Turnbull’s amendments hit furious Conroy
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has revealed the cost of the Coalition's cooperation in getting Labor's wide-ranging telecommunications legislation through the Federal Parliament: A handful of amendments aimed at protecting both Telstra and Australian consumers.
Gartner urges immediate corporate iPad action
As corporate adoption of Apple's iPad tablet continues to ratchet up to lightspeed, analyst firm Gartner has issued a sharp warning to chief executives to grab the iPad opportunity now and discuss the device's "disruptive" capabilities with their chief information officers and other divisions of their organisations.
Management the key for Victorian iPad rollout
Analyst firm Gartner yesterday questioned whether Victoria's Labor party had properly analysed what management tools and supporting infrastructure it will need if it wins the upcoming state election and is required to deliver on its promise this week to roll out Apple iPads to every public hospital doctor state-wide.
OECD somewhat critical of NBN approach
The global Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has handed the Federal Government's flagship National Broadband Network project a mixed report card in its latest detailed examination of Australia's economic health.
OECD report: Conroy fires back
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull this morning claimed a report released over the weekend by the global Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) backed his arguments regarding Labor's National Broadband Network project. Now it's Stephen Conroy's turn to do the same.
Rebel telco alliance backs Turnbull’s NBN bill
The splinter group of telcos concerned about Labor's National Broadband Network project has backed Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbulll's legislation to inject more transparency into the project, in an open letter to the Federal independent and Green MPs who will ultimately decide its fate.
Turnbull rails against parliamentary NBN blockage
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has accused several of the independents and Greens MP Adam Bandt of irresponsibility for their decision not to support his private member's bill designed to increase transparency of the National Broadband Network and force the Government to conduct a cost/benefit analysis.
NBN Co plan “thoroughly inadequate”, says Turnbull
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has labelled the summary of NBN Co's business plan released today as being "thoroughly inadequate" and lacking in financial detail.
Telco reform bill passes Senate
Labor's controversial legislation to break up Telstra and restructure the telecommunications sector was approved in the Senate this afternoon, in a long-awaited move that the Federal Government has been pushing for for more than a year.
Who are Australia’s richest technologists?
We've always loved the annual rich list published by Fairfax magaxine Business Review Weekly. It's like gossip for the absolute top end of town. Each year you get to gloat as you see how family millionaires' fortunes fell a little this year on the rankings, and enjoy the success of young guns rising to the top on the back of their own effort.
Will Victoria’s Coalition Govt back NBN opt-out?
Victoria's Coalition Government-Elect has given tantalising signs that its support for the National Broadband Network rollout in the state will not be as complete as that of its Labor predecessor.
Federal Parliament deploys Windows Vista
Microsoft's latest operating system Windows 7 has been out for more than a year, but Australia's Federal Parliament revealed this week that it will ignore the release in the short term and is instead in the process of upgrading to its much-maligned predecessor, Windows Vista.
Get nicked, Conroy: Baillieu rejects opt-out NBN
The new Coalition State Government in Victoria has given its clearest signal yet that it will reject the 'opt-out' model for the National Broadband Network rollout in the state, meaning residents will need to actively choose to receive fibre when it hits their neighbourhood.
Conroy to release NBN Co plan Monday
The office of Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has confirmed plans to release the National Broadband Network Company's long-awaited business plan for public viewing from Monday.
NBN: Abbott rejects “video entertainment system”
The Federal Opposition Leader has once again taken an axe to Labor’s National Broadband Network project, claiming it wasn’t worth spending government money on a telecommunications upgrade which would primarily be used to fuel the nation’s passion for high-end video and gaming content.
Please explain Alcatel bribes, Turnbull tells Quigley
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has demanded an explanation from the chief executive and chief financial officers of the National Broadband Network Company over the bribery scandal which has engulfed their former employer and now key equipment supplier, French networking giant Alcatel-Lucent.
Quigley faces down Alcatel bribery questions
NBN Co chief executive Mike Quigley has mounted a good-humoured defence against claims he and his chief financial officer could have contributed to a poor management culture at their previous employer Alcatel, which US regulators have linked to corruption in the company’s South American subsidiaries.
Australians using just 15 percent of broadband quota
Australians use only 15 percent of their monthly broadband quota, on average, according to a report by Sydney-based telecommunications analyst firm Market Clarity released this week.
Health departments shun official iPad trials
Consumers love it. Business professionals in a wide range of fields love it. Politicians (hello, Mr Turnbull) love it. Even babies love it. And increasingly, doctors and other medical professionals love it. But six months after the iPad launched in Australia and with the hyped Apple tablet selling like hotcakes, Australia’s health departments don’t yet appear to be that interested in the device.
Conroy eviscerates Economist’s “right-wing dogma”
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has delivered a contemptuous riposte to the research arm of global financial magazine The Economist, describing a report produced by the organisation on Labor's flagship National Broadband Network project as "right-wing dogma".
Turnbull loves “feisty” Twitter debates
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has declared he enjoys the "often quite feisty" debates he regularly participates in with respect to topics such as the National Broadband Network, noting that the medium was a good one for examining the quality of people's arguments.
Conroy just like Basil Fawlty, claims Turnbull
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has taken Stephen Conroy to task for what he claimed was a habit by the Labor Minister for censoring the idea of a cost/benefit analysis from anything to do with the National Broadband Network – drawing a comparison with classic Fawlty Towers character Basil Fawlty in the process.
Conroy’s fibre claims “absolute tripe”, says Turnbull
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has labelled the idea that the next generation of consumer services could only be delivered over fibre-optic cable "nonsense" and "absolute tripe", in a fiery interview in which he highlighted the strengths of rival wireless technologies.
Greens win NBN FoI victory as Turnbull falters
The Greens last night celebrated what they described as "a big win for transparency and openness" regarding Labor's flagship National Broadband Network project, successfully moving amendments to the current NBN legislation before parliament that will open up NBN Co to scrutiny through Freedom of Information laws.
Turnbull embarks on Asian broadband tour
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has embarked on an impromptu tour of broadband facilities and networks throughout the greater Asian region, in what appears to be an effort to keep on the cutting edge of technology as part of the debate about Australia's own National Broadband Network.
Mr Turnbull, what is going on here?
A little birdie sent us this video of Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his wife Lucy looking ... extremely uncomfortable, while a man who appears to be from the South Korean parliament continually tells them they're going to be on "YouTube". We can only assume Turnbull shot this video while in Korea as part of his broadband study tour this week ... but we need to ask the question -- what the dickens is it all about?
Amendments turn NBN Co into a retailer: Turnbull
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has issued a sharp warning that an extensive package of amendments to key National Broadband Network legislation published by the Federal Government yesterday made a mockery of the claim that NBN Co would be a wholesale-only player in the telecommunications market.
Labor MP decries Apple’s Australia tax
Federal Labor MP Ed Husic last week criticised Apple and other technology giants for hiking prices on their products when sold in Australia compared with the US, noting he would write to the managing director of Apple Australia to demand answers as to why the mark-ups occurred.
Turnbull slams Conroy’s “incompetence”as NBN bills pass
Two key pieces of legislation relating to the National Broadband Network have been approved by both houses of parliament in Canberra, after a week of prolonged debate and negotiation which Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull today described as a “spectacle”.
Australia’s NBN is nothing like Korea, says Turnbull
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has delivered an impassioned speech arguing much of the reality around the nature broadband has been lost in the national NBN debate, and that Australia’s fibre to the home rollout is unusual even by the standards of international broadband centres like Korea.
We predicted NBN construction blow-outs: Turnbull
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull late last week claimed the Opposition and sections of the telecommunications industry had predicted the NBN construction costs would blow out beyond the Government's estimates, in the wake of news that NBN Co had been forced to halt its tendering process in the area, after negotiations with suppliers broke down over price.
Who is this “Max Pesh”?
Perhaps, Mr Conroy, you mean Mark Pesce?
Principal Turnbull: Teaching Conroy “Economics 101”
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has used the release of new broadband statistics to argue that the real inequity in Australia's broadband market is the fact that lower income households cannot afford currently broadband prices, arguing that Communications Minister Stephen Conroy needs to learn "Economics 101".
Budget 2011: Turnbull warns of NBN “charade”
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has labelled the Federal Government's continued approach of keeping the cost of building its flagship National Broadband Network project off the annual budget books a "charade", in the wake of early take-up figures of the network's services which the Coalition views as being less than expected.
Pitcher Partners dumps desk phones for Skype for Business
Australian accounting and advisory firm Pitcher Partners has announced the replacement of desk telephones with Skype for Business, alongside the implementation of VPN-like service Microsoft DirectAccess.
Cash Converters deploys Windows 10
In a move aimed to "streamline its information ecosystem", Cash Converters has rolled out Windows 10 to 350 stores around the world, including Australia.
Shorten says Govt has “bungled” the Census
While acknowledging that the Census "does a lot more good than harm", Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has said that the government has "bungled" 2016's official survey of the Australian population.
Equinix completes expansion of Melbourne datacentre
Equinix, an international provider of datacentres and Internet exchanges, has completed the second phase expansion of its Melbourne datacentre, known as ME1.
AGL to launch $300 million digital transformation
AGL has announced the launch of a three-year, $300-million digital transformation programme aimed to improve customers' experience with the company.
Digital Rights Watch calls for independent inquiry into Census fail
Online advocacy organisation Digital Rights Watch (DRW) has called for an independent inquiry into the 2016 Census following the failure of the Census website on 9 August and concerns over the way the official national population survey has been managed.
Greens will legislate to dismiss fines and preserve census ‘snapshot’
Following both protests over privacy and the failure of the Census website on 9 August, the Australian Greens have said they plan to introduce legislation aimed to ensure that people "acting to protect their privacy" and unable to complete the census will not be fined.
DDoS takes down Census website
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has said the 2016 online Census form was subject to four distributed denial of dervice (DDoS) attacks on 9 August that were of "varying nature and severity".
Apple rejects banks’ proposed mobile payments “cartel”
In a strongly worded letter to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC), Apple has rejected the formation of a mobile payments "cartel" proposed by four major Australian banks.
Netflix figures back Coalition’s faster NBN rollout, says Fifield
Senator Mitch Fifield, Federal Minister for Communications, has claimed that Netflix's latest ISP Speed Index supports the faster rollout of the NBN under the Coalition Government.
Telstra to invest $3bn in network, customer service
Telstra has announced it will spend up to an extra $3 billion over three years on a range of investments aimed to improve its networks and "digitise and simplify" customer service.
Turnbull blames IBM, ABS for Census website failure
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has put some the blame for the failure of the Census website on the shoulders of IBM, saying the measures the firm put in place for the functioning of the site were "inadequate". However, the ABS also came in for some flak.
Qld Govt to legalise ride-booking services like Uber
The Queensland Government has announced it will overhaul the state's personalised transport industry regulations to create a more "level playing field" for ride-booking services like Uber.
ABS staff “angry” at Turnbull following Census outage, union says
The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has said staff at the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) are "angry" at comments by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull following the failure of the Census web service.
Qld Govt airs plans to boost electric vehicle uptake
The Queensland Government is developing a strategy aimed to "encourage and facilitate" electric vehicle (EV) uptake, according to the state's Energy Minister, Mark Bailey.
Pirate Party calls for resignation of ABS chief over Census debacle
The Pirate Party has hit out at the Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) handling of the Census, saying it "incompetently" allowed the online data collection to "fail" and that the bureau's head, David Kalisch, should resign as a result.
Conroy re-commits to filter, slams Lundy amendments
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has reiterated the Government's support for its mandatory internet filter policy after the change in Prime Minister and has slammed proposed amendments by Senator Kate Lundy that would allow Australians to opt in or out of the technology.
Gillard ducks filter questions
The office of new Prime Minister Julia Gillard has declined to answer questions about the Labor leader’s personal views on her party’s mandatory internet filtering policy, directing enquiries to Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.
How will Australia’s e-health record work?
Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon yesterday provided further details on how the Federal Government's electronic health record project will work in practice, although details of exactly how budget funds will be spent on the project remain scarce.
Netflix speeds show Turnbull’s NBN is “flatlining”, says Labor
The latest Netflix ISP Speed Index shows that Australia's Internet speeds are "flatlining" and demonstrates the need for a "proper" National Broadband Network, Labor has said.
Cisco unveils DOCSIS design for massive HFC upload speeds
Cisco has unveiled a royalty-free design for a Full Duplex DOCSIS specification that it claims will produce upload speeds of up to 10 Gbps.
Qantas CIO jets off to Airbus
Qantas Airways' Chief Information Officer, Luc Hennekens, is leaving the company to take on the same role at Airbus, effective 1 October.
Vodafone UK dumps telephone line rental on broadband plans
Vodafone UK has said it is "removing" home broadband line rental charges, and is touting the claim in its latest ad campaign.
NBN “exceeding targets”, says Government
The Federal Government has said that the National Broadband Network rollout is "exceeding its connection and financial targets", following the release of NBN Co’s latest full-year results.
Turnbull’s NBN “hardly on target”, says Labor
The Australian Labor Party has criticised a Government statement saying NBN Co has "exceeded" its targets for the financial year 2016, suggesting that the national broadband network is actually "hardly on target".
NBN exceeds one million active users
NBN Co has announced that has exceeded its "core" targets for financial year 2016 and said the rollout of the National Broadband Network is "very much on track".
Cloud computing could cause the next Industrial Revolution, says Telstra
The cloud has sparked true IT transformation, and could potentially usher in a new Industrial Revolution, according to an opinion piece penned by Michelle Bendschneider – Telstra's Executive Director, Global Products.
Experts cast doubt on Census DDoS claims
Computer science and security experts at the University of Wollongong (UOW) have cast doubts on the Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) claims that a DDoS attack was in part responsible for the meltdown of the Census website on 9 August.
WA audit finds schools “struggling” with ICT management
Western Australia's schools are struggling to keep on top of ICT management and students could be adversely affected if the situation is not remedied, according to the state's Auditor General.
NBN hits three million premises milestone
Just days after NBN Co's announcement revealing that it has reached over one million active users, the Government has announced another milestone, saying three million premises are now able to connect to the National Broadband Network.
Unlimited data plans unveiled by Westnet
Broadband provider Westnet has launched a number of new unlimited data bundles, covering ADSL and, for those in the footprint, NBN too.
iiNet launches unlimited data plans
Unlimited data broadband plans are the new black, it seems. Just a day after Westnet announced its range of unlimited data deals, so too does iiNet, with spookily similar pricing and nomenclature, to boot.
NSW Govt adopts Android Pay
The New South Wales Government has adopted Android Pay as a payment method at service centres across the state, and said it is the first Australian Government to do so.
Tasmania’s first Tier III datacentre reaches next stage
Tasmania’s first Tier III datacentre has moved a step closer to the construction stage with the purchase of a site for the facility, according to its Western Australian operator, Red Cloud.
Telstra announces free Netflix, Stan, Presto on mobile plans
Recognising that Australians' sport and TV consumption habits are moving rapidly towards a more mobile, small-screen experience, Telstra has announced a number of free streaming options for its customers, as well as a new app.
ACCC knocks back banks’ anti-Apple ‘cartel’ request … for now
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has said it has decided not to grant four of Australia's biggest banks interim authorisation to "collectively bargain" with Apple over the terms of any partnership involving the tech giant's Apple Pay product.
Telstra profits should go to job creation, not destruction, says union
Following Telstra's announcement of a record profit for the 2015-16 financial year, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) has called on the telco to use some of those funds to invest in its Australian workforce, rather than continue with its outsourcing and offshoring initiatives.
Sky TV deploys Citrix to manage network demands during Olympic broadcasts
New Zealand pay television provider Sky TV has deployed a Citrix networking solution to manage "unpredictable" network connectivity and high bandwidth demands during Rio 2016 Olympics broadcasts.
Telstra reaches “significant” mobile black spot milestone
Telstra has activated its 60th mobile base station under the Mobile Black Spot Programme, 60 weeks since the first round of locations were announced – a milestone that Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce called a "significant achievement".
Funding “storm clouds” ahead for NBN, says Budde
Telecoms industry commentator Paul Budde has said that while the NBN rollout is currently "in a good place", "storm clouds" may lie ahead as a lack of investment causes issues further down the road.
Australia Post plans blockchain-based e-voting system
Australia Post has aired plans to take voting into the digital era in a submission to the Victorian Parliament’s Electoral Matters Committee that would see it build a blockchain-based e-voting system for the state.
Xero migrates to Amazon Web Services
New Zealand-based accounting software company Xero has made what it calls the "massive move" to the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud platform.
Telstra to launch new home Wi-Fi tech and Internet bundles
Telstra is introducing new Wi-Fi technology that it says will take in-home broadband speeds and coverage to "new levels".
Medibank appoints new tech chief
Private health insurance provider Medibank has announced the hiring of a new head of technology, effective from the end of November.
“Shameful” AFP NBN raid may be illegal, says Conroy
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) raid on the Department of Parliamentary Services yesterday was possibly illegal, according to Senator Stephen Conroy, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and Shadow Special Minister Of State.
AFP raids Parliament House over NBN leaks
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has confirmed a raid on Parliament House yesterday in relation to its investigation into the alleged unauthorised disclosure of Commonwealth information relating to NBN Co.
Launceston city now has total NBN coverage
Launceston has become the first city in Tasmania to be declared ready for service on the NBN network, with all suburbs now "ready for service", NBN Co has announced.
Fifield hits out at Labor over AFP raid comments
Mitch Fifield, Federal Minister for Communications, has hit out at the Labor Opposition following comments made by Senator Stephen Conroy following an Australian Federal Police (AFP) search at Parliament House on 23 August.
Domino’s Pizza to launch drone deliveries with new tech partner
Domino’s Pizza has announced a new partnership with US-based drone delivery specialist Flirtey to launch what it claims will be the "first commercial drone delivery service in the world".
How Adelaide City Council uses Skype for Business to reach constituents
In 2015, the recently elected Adelaide City Council became the first in Australia to live stream its committee meetings using Skype for Business’s module Skype Meeting Broadcast. This is how it did it...
NBN lowers peak funding prediction to $54bn
In its Corporate Plan 2017, released yesterday, NBN Co confirmed that it is still expecting to complete the broadband network on time, and predicted the peak cost of building the network would be $2bn lower than it expected last August.
Turnbull “stuffed up” NBN costs, says Labor
The Labor Opposition has responded to the release of NBN Co's Corporate Plan 2016, saying that that document confirms that "every assumption [Prime MInister] Turnbull made when he was Minister responsible for the NBN was wrong".
APF concerned about DTO’s identity framework project
The Australian Privacy Foundation (APF) has raised concerns about the way the Digital Transformation Office (DTO) has proceeded about setting up its new Trusted Digital Identity Framework (TDIF) project.
Leidos closes Lockheed merger
US-based multinational defence company Leidos has announced the successful completion of its previously announced merger with Lockheed Martin's Information Systems & Global Solutions (IS&GS) business.
Telcos want to write own guideline for broadband speed claims
Telecoms industry body Communications Alliance, along with the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA), have together proposed a new industry guideline for firms making representations to consumers about the performance of broadband services.
Salesforce IT research reveals digital shake-up
Salesforce has released its third State of IT research report, an annual look at the industry which this year suggests that the digital revolution is "shaking up" traditional IT departments.
DTO’s Digital Marketplace enters beta stage
The Digital Transformation Office's (DTO) Digital Marketplace has now reached the Beta stage of its development, according to a DTO blog post.
Google wants exemption from banks’ mobile payments ‘cartel’
In a letter to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Google has requested exemption from an effort by four major Australian banks to be able to collectively negotiate terms with, as well as boycott, third-party wallet app providers.
British ISPs demand BT separate from Openreach
The CEOs of Sky, TalkTalk and Vodafone in the UK have contacted the communications watchdog Ofcom demanding that BT-subsidiary Openreach be split off from the telco in order to improve services for customers and build a "truly world-class national broadband network".
ANZ Bank adds Mastercard to its Apple Pay, Android Pay options
ANZ Bank has announced that its MasterCard customers can now use their smartphones to make payments with both Apple Pay and Android Pay.
EU rules that Apple must pay €13 billion in back taxes
Following a lengthy investigation, the European Commission (EC) has ruled that Apple must pay back up to €13 billion plus interest after Ireland gave the tech firm "illegal tax benefits".
IBM selected to provide integration platform for the ANU
The Australian National University (ANU) has announced that IBM has been selected to supply the application integration platform for its Data Integration project.
Australia’s first driverless bus takes to the road
Australia’s first "fully driverless" and electric shuttle bus took to the streets of South Perth yesterday for the on-road stage of its ongoing trial, according to the RAC.
XG.FAST won’t obviate need for copper replacement, says Internet Australia
Following NBN Co's announcement that it is to commence trials of XG.FAST – a new technology said to deliver fibre-equivalent broadband speeds over copper – Internet Australia has said, even if the claims hold true, the network may still need updating to fibre in the future.
Bevan Slattery launches cloud and datacentre directory
Australian tech entrepreneur Bevan Slattery has launched a comprehensive cloud and datacentre directory called Cloudscene.
NBN Co conducts XG.FAST trials with Nokia
NBN Co is to launch lab trials of a new broadband technology called XG.FAST, which it says has already delivered trial speeds in other countries of over 5Gbps on a pair of copper lines.
Salesforce best place to work in Australia, survey finds
Cloud computing firm Salesforce has been voted the best place to work in Australia for companies with over 100 employees.
Govt reintroduces media reform legislation
The Federal Government has reintroduced its media reform bill to parliament, a move aimed to support the Australian media organisations in the face of increasing competition from less regulated services.
Govt introduces Innovation and Science legislation
The Coalition Government has introduced its Innovation and Science Australia Bill to parliament, a move it said will place innovation and science at the centre of its plan for Australia’s future economic prosperity.
NAB appoints acting tech chief
National Australia Bank has appointed a new acting Chief Technology and Operations Officer (CTOO), following Bob Melrose's move to the role of Executive General Manager, Retail Banking.
Senate to hold inquiry into Census website failure
The Senate will hold an inquiry into the much-criticised failure of the Census website on 9 August.
Government “botched” NDIS IT systems, says Labor
Labor has said the Coalition Government has "botched" the rollout of the IT systems for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) healthcare programme.
ACCC still concerned about NBN/Telstra relationship
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has aired concerns over potential competition issues raised by the commercial relationship between Telstra and NBN Co.
Audit finds “weaknesses” in Turnbull’s Mobile Blackspot Programme
The Australian National Audit Office has released a report criticising aspects of the Federal Government’s handling of the Mobile Black Spot Programme.
ACCC seeking feedback for communications sector market study
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released an 'issues paper' seeking feedback from industry and consumers as part of a market study of the communications sector.
Coalition failed to resource NDIA properly, PwC report finds
A new report by 'Big Four' auditor PwC has levelled criticism at the Coalition Government over failures in the way it resourced the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and cast doubt on its ability to transition to full service.
Simon Hackett appointed CEO of Redflow
Redflow, an energy storage solutions provider, has announced two new senior management changes, including the appointment of a new acting Chief Executive Officer.
Attorney-General releases data retention grants list
The Federal Government has revealed the details of grants aimed to assist companies with the cost burden of compliance with data-retention legislation.
Peregrine deploys Microsoft Power BI in IoT pilot
South Australian convenience retailer Peregrine Corporation has announced plans to pilot an Internet of Things (IoT) and Microsoft Power BI data analytics solution to reduce business risks.
MTM NBN roadmap “tortuous”, says Budde
NBN Co is taking "tortuous route" towards building its network with "band aid solutions" being applied via its multi-technology mix approach, according to telecoms commentator Paul Budde.
Telstra seeks 120 voluntary redundancies
Telstra is seeking up to 120 volunteers for redundancy from its Networks Delivery operations, according to the Communication Workers Union (CWU).
Aurecon appoints new tech chief
International engineering and advisory company Aurecon has appointed ex-Toll Group tech specialist Carl Duckinson as its new Chief Information Officer.
Telcos urge “regulatory restraint” on data retention compliance
Communications Alliance, Australia's primary telecoms industry body with membership drawn from across the industry, has urged the Federal Government to "exercise regulatory restraint" if some telecoms service providers are unable to comply fully with mandatory data retention rules by the April 2017 deadline.
DTO nicks Treasury CIO to be new COO
The Digital Transformation Office (DTO) has nabbed Peter Alexander, the current Chief Information Officer at the Treasury, as its new Chief Operating Officer.
Foxtel ramps up its IPTV offering in competition with Netflix
Foxtel has revamped its approach to package pricing for its IP-delivered subscription TV service, Foxtel Play, presumably aiming to lower the cost bar for customers in the face of competition from rival services such as Netflix.
Defence to splurge $500m on cyber-wargames centre
The Federal Government has approved a new joint electronic warfare project worth $500 million aimed to better prepare the Australian armed forces for operations in "complex threat environments".
Fujitsu wins grants management deal with Industry Dept
Fujitsu has won a deal to build and implement an end-to-end grants management system for the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.
ANZ Bank reveals new tech structure
ANZ has announced changes to the way it will operate its technology, operations and shared services following the departure of the bank's Group Chief Operating Officer.
Australian smartwatch market gathering steam
After a slow start, smartwatches sales numbers are starting to climb in Australia, according to a new study by emerging technology analyst firm Telsyte.
Chorus launches gigabit broadband across New Zealand
New Zealand telco Chorus is to extend its 1Gbps residential and small-to-medium business fibre broadband service across its entire ultra-fast broadband footprint from 1 October.
Morrow predicts “NBN Generation” by 2020
By 2020, NBN Co expects Australia will be "the first country of our size" to make broadband access universal, according to Bill Morrow, the firm's CEO.
CBA and Barclays announce UK-Australia mobile payments solution
Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Barclays have announced a new technology partnership that is aimed to ease the movement of money between Australia and the UK.
TAFE Queensland is rolling out TechOne’s education solution
Australian enterprise Software as a Service (SaaS) provider TechOne has inked a deal to provide Student Management solution to TAFE Queensland, the vocational education and training organisation.
Apple announces Australian launch dates for iPhone 7
Apple has announced that its new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be available for preorder on 9 September in Australia, with the phones becoming available for retail sales on 16 September.
Labor backs Govt’s new Joint NBN Committee
The Federal Government has formed a joint standing committee that will oversee the rollout of the National Broadband Network until it is completed, likely in 2020.
Senate votes against asking Govt to abandon Census fines
The Senate has voted against a motion asking the Federal Government to abandon fines for Australians who failed to complete their Census forms following a failure of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) website on 9 August and concerns over the security of retained personal data.
Atos, Datacom and NEC signed up for $3bn WA GovNext plan
Atos, Datacom and NEC have been selected by the WA Government to help it roll out its $3 billion GovNext ICT plan, according to The West Australian.
Labor slams data retention funding “uncertainties”
The Labor Opposition has hit out at the way the Government handled grant assistance for companies falling under the remit of new data retention regulation.
Vodafone snaps up Lebara’s Australian mobile assets
Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) has announced the acquisition of Lebara’s Australian mobile business assets – a move that will give it the right to use the Lebara brand locally.
HP adopts Microsoft Dynamics for CRM
Multinational IT giant HP has signed a six-year agreement to deploy Microsoft Dynamics for its thousands of employees.
AirTree raises $250m for venture capital fund
Australia-based venture capital firm AirTree has announced that it has raised $250m for what will be the country's largest ever VC fund.
Digital tech “critical” for massive agricultural industry growth
Digital agricultural technology (AgTech) will be a "critical component" of Australia's plan to develop a $100 billion agricultural industry by 2030, according to a new StartupAUS report.
NSW Govt implements new IT project assurance framework
The New South Wales Government is implementing a new set of procedures as part of its plan to monitor projects more closely and protect departments from issues such as runaway budgets.
NSW Govt to buy services from DTO’s Digital Marketplace
The NSW Government has announced it will become the first Australian state to find digital expertise on the Commonwealth Government’s Digital Marketplace.
Programming error costs CommBank over $2.5m
A flawed computer programme has forced Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) to stump up $2.5m in penalties and written off overdrafts, according to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
Superloop to boost offerings with BigAir acquisition
Fibre network provider Superloop has announced its intent to acquire BigAir Group, a telco that manages one of the largest metropolitan fixed wireless networks in Australia.
Ludlam demands clarity on GST Internet filter report
The Australian Greens have demanded that the Government clarify its stance on a reported new policy that would see it block foreign sites not paying Goods and services Tax (GST) on sales in Australia.
ANZ Bank renews Optus telco deals
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) has renewed its telecommunications and managed services agreements with Singtel and Optus Business, extending both to 2020.
IoT solution brings a boost to Tasmania’s oyster farms
AgTech business The Yield has developed a new system that uses in-water sensors, cloud computing and machine learning to offer an improved outcome for the bivalve-based businesses.
Origin searches for Head of Cloud Services
Australian energy provider Origin is on the hunt for an experienced executive to take on the role of Head of Cloud Services as the firm moves towards a "cloud first" strategy.
Labor colleagues pay tribute to “visionary” Conroy
Labor politicians from across Australia have paid tribute to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and longtime Victorian Senator, Stephen Conroy who announced his retirement from politics on Thursday.
Telstra exchanges a “disgrace”, says CWU
Telstra is "failing to maintain its exchange buildings" and many are in a "disgraceful state", the Communications Workers Union (CWU) has said.
Labor slams Turnbull’s NBN “broken promises”
The Labor Party has hit out at what it calls Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's "broken promises" over the NBN rollout and listed a number of perceived "stuff-ups" during his first year of office.
Stephen Conroy announces retirement from Senate
Labor Senator Stephen Conroy has made the surprise announcement that he is to retire from Senate later this month.
AICD’s membership data stolen
Australia's peak organisation for company directors has warned its members to be on the lookout for attempts at identity fraud, after today disclosing that a computer had been stolen from its offices which may have contained data on its many thousands of high-profile members and clients located around the nation.
Conroy’s attacks lack “hard evidence,” claims Turnbull
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has issued a cold and lengthy rejoinder to a fiery speech by his opposite Stephen Conroy this afternoon, arguing the Labor Senator had failed to provide "hard evidence" regarding a number of claims about the Coalition's rival telecommunications policy.
Optus HFC cable to hit 100Mbps by mid-2010
The nation's number two telco Optus today said it was on schedule to upgrade the speed of its HFC cable network in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to 100Mbps by mid-2010.
SingTel: “No decision” on Optus IPO
Singapore Telecommunications today said the company had made "no decision" on selling a minority stake in subsidiary Optus, and it did not know where...
BigPond chief Justin Milne quits: Report
The long-time leader of Telstra’s BigPond internet service provider division and current fixed line chief, Justin Milne, has reportedly resigned.
Telstra’s Linux-based T-Box to launch mid-June
Telstra today revealed it would launch its Linux-based T-Box integrated media centre set-top box from mid-June at a stand-alone price point of $299, with a sledload of free and pay-per-view content available and an associated revamp of its broadband plans in the works.
Foxtel wants IPTV locked to Telstra
Cable TV operator Foxtel has asked the nation's competition regulator to let it provide what appears to be a new internet video service through its iQ and iQ2 set-top boxes on the condition that customers have a broadband connection with its part-owner Telstra.
Telstra signs up to NBN for $11 billion
Telstra has signed a preliminary $11 billion deal with NBN Co that would see the telco migrate its telephone and broadband customers onto the fibre National Broadband Network, with its copper (ADSL) network to be shut down and no more broadband services to be provided over its HFC cable network.
Opposition would cancel Telstra deal
The Opposition has slammed NBN Co's $11 billion deal with Telstra announced this afternoon, describing it as Labor's “desperate” attempt to progress its National Broadband Network policy “by throwing billions of dollars of taxpayers' cash at it”, and adding that it would cancel the deal if elected.
Reform still needed despite Telstra deal, says Optus
Australia's number two telco Optus has “cautiously” welcomed a wide-ranging deal revealed today between Telstra and NBN Co; however the SingTel subsidiary also emphasised what it said was the continuing importance of legislation to reform the telecommunications sector as a whole.
Deal rectifies Telstra privatisation mistake: Greens
This afternoon's announcement of an $11 billion deal between Telstra and NBN Co may help to rectify the Government's mistake in privatising Australia's telecommunications monopoly infrastructure, the Australian Greens said today.
Telstra’s David Thodey on NBN deal: Audio Q&A
This morning Telstra chief executive David Thodey took questions from the media on the telco's $11 billion deal announced yesterday with the company behind the National Broadband Network. You can listen to the conversation in this audio file of the teleconference.
Deal may cause Telstra losses: Analyst
Telstra’s $11 billion deal with NBN Co might not be enough to make up for revenue losses it will sustain in its long-term transition away from its tightly integrated structure, local analyst firm Telsyte argued in a research note posted yesterday.
Four more cities get Telstra 30Mbps cable
Telstra has almost doubled the theoretical speeds on its HFC cable network in a clutch of cities around Australia, pushing the network from 17Mbps to 30Mbps -- despite the fact that it will stop using the network to provide broadband services as the National Broadband Network is constructed.
Telstra to bring Foxtel to T-Box
Telstra chief executive David Thodey tonight revealed that the telco was talking with its joint venture partner Foxtel to bring the payTV service to Telstra's T-Box internet television platform launched last month.
BigPond massively cuts broadband plan costs
Telstra's BigPond internet service provider arm has dramatically cut prices on a range of its broadband plans, including a massive chop on its 200GB Elite plan which will see monthly prices drop from $179.95 to $89.95.
Optus quadruples HFC cable speeds with DOCSIS 3
Optus has completed a substantial upgrade of its HFC cable network in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney that will allow residents in supported areas access to speeds up ranging up to around 80Mbps or more, using the improved DOCSIS 3 standard.
Coalition unveils rival $6bn broadband policy
The Coalition this afternoon unveiled its rival, $6 billion broadband policy to Labor's National Broadband Network project, with the central planks being a competitive backhaul network, regional and metropolitan wireless networks and an ADSL enrichment program that will target telephone exchanges without ADSL2+ broadband.
Coalition policy “a blast from the past”, says Conroy
Both the Labor and Greens parties this afternoon opened fire on the Coalition's rival broadband policy revealed this morning, in an ICT sector election debate that at times saw Communications Minister Stephen Conroy and his shadow Tony Smith at each others' throats.
1Gbps demand years away, says Thodey
Telstra chief executive David Thodey said today demand in the average home for the 1Gbps speeds now planned under Labor’s National Broadband Network policy was “a good few years away”, although he welcomed NBN Co’s commitment to providing the upgraded speeds.
NBN: How core is self-interest to the debate?
One of the signatories to a national broadband proposal unveiled at the eleventh hour to rival Labor’s own long-running NBN project has accused vendors and telcos of stirring up hype for a fibre-optic cable future in line with a view to serving their own interests in generating massive contracts and gaining operating certainty.
Optus a closed shop on NBN
The nation's number two telco Optus yesterday again refused to disclose what the outcome of any ongoing discussions with the National Broadband Network Company might be -- or when it might commence a trial of retail services with the company.
Future Fund snubs Telstra
Telstra's shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favour of three resolutions at its annual general meeting on Friday. The only problem? The company's largest shareholder, the Federal Government's Future Fund, issued a protest vote against all three.
Windows Live on the cards for BigPond email
The nation's biggest telco Telstra is considering dumping the email, blogging, photos and online storage platforms used by customers of its BigPond internet service provider division and migrating customers to Microsoft's Windows Live platform.
Gigabit fibre for ~ $150/month: NBN Co plan revealed
The Federal Government this morning released the long-awaited corporate plan outlining how NBN Co plans to build and operate its planned fibre network over the next decade and more, including tantalising details such as the promise of a uniform national wholesale price for 1Gbps fibre broadband for close to $150 per month.
Commentators pan ‘uncompetitive’ NBN plan
A number of Australia's most senior business and economics commentators have opened fire on Labor's flagship National Broadband Network project, claiming NBN Co's corporate plan released on Monday was based on flawed assumptions and demonstrated the project would wind back competition in the telecommunications sector.
Vic opt-out block no big deal, says NBN chief
NBN Co chief executive Mike Quigley isn't fazed by the Victorian Government's decision to reject the 'opt-out' policy which would have seen every premise in the state receive fast broadband by default, noting today Australians could make their own decision to sign up to his company's planned new network or not.
Telstra delays NBN vote
The nation’s largest telco Telstra this morning revealed it had been forced to delay a vote to be put to shareholders regarding whether it should go ahead with its $11 billion deal to transfer customers onto the National Broadband Network as the new fibre monopoly rolls out its infrastructure around the nation.
Consumer VoIP not reliable, says Telstra
Telstra today said it did not believe Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony could deliver sufficient reliability and quality to enable the telco to launch a VoIP service to consumers, despite revealing plans to launch a VoIP service to small businesses, including those with staff working from home.
We’ve got 170,000 VoIP customers, iiNet tells Telstra
National broadband provider iiNet has responded to comments by Telstra that consumer-grade Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony isn’t yet reliable enough for use by pointing out that it has 170,000 customers using the technology – and they’re very happy, thank you very much.