Scott Morris
Politics

7 charts that explain the 2020 Australian budget

- October 7, 2020 < 1 MIN READ

The budget deficit is projected to hit $213.6 billion, a record 11% of GDP, before winding back: Instead of falling, as predicted in the last budget, debt will climb: There’s spending and tax cuts a plenty: It’s expected to bring about a bounce-back in economic growth: But much depends on the assumptions, including a return… Read more »

Other tech

Intelligent transport is hitting the road in Queensland

- October 7, 2020 2 MIN READ

A South Australian-based V2X technology company has today begun a connected vehicle trial in Queensland which will help explore the future of co-operative intelligent transport systems. About 500 vehicles will be fitted with Cohda Wireless’s MK5H on-board units as part of the Ipswich Connected Vehicle Pilot (ICVP). Cohda Wireless’s V2X (vehicle to everything) technology allows… Read more »

Politics

Budget 2020 has a $37 billion boost for business

- October 6, 2020 4 MIN READ

Tax cuts aren’t the half of it. The personal income tax cuts promised in the budget will cost A$17.8 billion over four years. The measures aimed at supporting businesses – the temporary instant tax write off of capital investments, the temporary ability to use losses to reduce previous tax payments, the JobMaker hiring credit and… Read more »

Politics

Budget 2020: Treasurer says ‘we have your back’ as income tax cuts kick in early

- October 6, 2020 4 MIN READ

Accelerated tax cuts, cash splashes for pensioners, massive incentives for business to invest and a subsidy to hire unemployed people are the centrepieces of the Morrison government’s COVID-19 budget. More than 11 million taxpayers will get a tax cut backdated to July 1, giving lower and middle-income earners tax relief this financial year of up… Read more »

Global tech

Facebook is merging Messenger and Instagram chat features for Zuckerberg’s benefit, not yours

- October 6, 2020 3 MIN READ

Facebook Messenger and Instagram’s direct messaging services will be integrated into one system, Facebook has announced. The merge will allow shared messaging across both platforms, as well as video calls and the use of a range of tools drawn from both platforms. It’s currently being rolled out across countries on an opt-in basis, but hasn’t… Read more »

ASX
Fintech

Fintech Douugh’s reverse listing hits the ASX today

- October 6, 2020 2 MIN READ

Financial platform Douugh makes its ASX debut in a reverse takeover of suspended telco Ziptel. The former Ziptel will be resinstated for trading as Douugh (ASX:DOU) when the market opens for trading at 10am today. Financial reports lodged with the ASX ahead of the relisting reveal that Douugh lost $1.29 million in FY2020, down from… Read more »

Other tech

Satellites are the new tractors of agriculture

- October 5, 2020 < 1 MIN READ

It’s World Space Week, October 4-10, with the theme ‘satellites improve life’, and AgriFutures Australia is marking the occasion by getting farmers to turn their attention on space technologies. An upcoming AgriFutures Australia collaboration with the Australian National University (ANU)  is exploring why farmers should be looking to space to solve industry challenges. Space technologies… Read more »

Global tech

Ticket reseller Viagogo, one of the most complained about companies in the world, cops a $7 million fine for misleading buyers

- October 4, 2020 3 MIN READ

Ticket reseller Viagogo AG has been fined $7 million for making false or misleading representations when reselling events tickets in a Federal Court legal action brought by consumer watchdog the ACCC. The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) took on the Swiss-based ticket reseller in 2017 for price-gouging consumers  by failing to disclose substantial fees.… Read more »

Funding

Techboard’s annual funding report finds Australian startup investment bucked the global downward trend

- October 2, 2020 3 MIN READ

FY20 startup funding nearly $7 billion Private investment almost doubled to $4.48bn Blackbird led Australian VC investors with 14 deals worth $490m More than 700 Australian startups have received nearly 900 rounds of funding from around 400 investors during the 2020 financial year according to the latest annual funding report by data analysis company Techboard.… Read more »

Funding

The government wants feedback on the R&D Tax Incentive – and you have just 10 days left to give it

- October 2, 2020 < 1 MIN READ

The Research and Development Tax Incentive (R&DTI) program is one of the most crucial yet fraught programs supporting the growth of Australian startups. The R&DTI helps offset some of the costs that businesses invest into eligible R&D and the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources is looking at reforms to improve how companies engage… Read more »

Politics

Space and resources tech are among six focus areas for the Australian government’s $1.5 billion manufacturing reboot

- October 1, 2020 4 MIN READ

The federal government is selecting six priority areas for support in a $1.5 billion manufacturing plan Scott Morrison will outline in a pre-budget address. They are resources technology and critical minerals processing, food and beverage, medical products, recycling and clean energy, defence, and space. The plan will also focus on building “supply chain resilience” after… Read more »