Battery, EV charger
Climate Tech

The federal government just tipped another $5 billion into its runaway home battery program, but its existing problems remain

- December 16, 2025 3 MIN READ

Over the weekend the federal government announced major changes to its A$2.3 billion home battery subsidy program. The changes include nearly $5 billion in extra funding and adjustments to the financial support provided for different-sized batteries. They follow recent reporting by The Conversation that the program is subsidising unnecessarily large home batteries and blowing out… Read more »

People

‘What do we say? And more importantly what do we do?’ – Australia’s tech sector reacts to the Bondi terrorism attack

- December 15, 2025 9 MIN READ

Australians and the world have been left horrified and reeling after at least 16 people were killed, with another 40 injured following a mass shooting involving two gunmen at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday evening. NSW police declared the incident a terrorist attack, which began at about 6.40pm on December 14. Alongside a typically busy… Read more »

AI/Machine Learning

Albanese government scraps AI advisory board plan

- December 11, 2025 3 MIN READ

Australia will not proceed with a permanent AI advisory board, after the federal government confirmed it has abandoned the plan despite growing pressure for stronger oversight of the technology. As reported by InnovationAus, recent answers to Senate estimates questions on notice show the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) will not establish the AI advisory… Read more »

Annika Wells and Anthony Albanese
Life hacks

While the Australian government says the u16s social media ban is vital for mental health, experts and new research suggests otherwise

- December 10, 2025 4 MIN READ

Warning: this article contains mention of suicide. Ten months after Australia’s teen social media ban passed parliament, Communications Minister Anika Wells brought together 20 of the country’s top mental health groups to talk about the law at a roundtable. “Today was a useful step for mental health organisations, peaks and government to get together and… Read more »

Global tech

Australia’s social media ban is here – and the world is watching to see what happens next

- December 10, 2025 4 MIN READ

After months of anticipation and debate, Australia’s social media ban is now in force. Young Australians under 16 must now come to grips with the new reality of being unable to have an account on some social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. Only time will tell whether this bold, world-first experiment will succeed.… Read more »

Global tech

PsiQuantum’s Brisbane build is already running very late

- December 9, 2025 2 MIN READ

PsiQuantum, the US startup backed by Blackbird, and the Queensland and federal governments, is already running several months behind schedule on plans to build its Brisbane facility and deliver the world’s first quantum computer. Founded in Palo Alto in 2016 by four expat Australian professors, PsiQuantum was backed by $940 million in joint funding from… Read more »

People

Dr Ian Oppermann named ACCC commissioner, with open banking expert Scott Farrell replacing him as Digital ID and CDR chair

- December 8, 2025 2 MIN READ

The federal government has appointed data scientist Dr Ian Oppermann as a commissioner of the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC). Dr Oppermann, the keynote speaker at this year’s Startup Daily Best in Tech awards, was previously NSW Government’s inaugural Chief Data Scientist, a startup founder and CSIRO director and entrepreneur-in-residence, and a pioneer of… Read more »

AI/Machine Learning

Around 3 in every four Australians see AI has a threat to people, business and national security, ANU survey reveals

- December 8, 2025 2 MIN READ

Threats relating to technology, disinformation, economic security and foreign interference are overshadowing traditional security concerns in Australians’ minds, according to data released by the Australian National University National Security College. More than 12,000 people were asked across two surveys, in November last year and July this year, to rate the seriousness of 15 potential threats… Read more »

Funding

‘This is devastating; this is crazy’: the Victorian government is killing off its successful startup agency, LaunchVic, to save money

- December 5, 2025 5 MIN READ

The Victorian government will wind down startup support agency LaunchVic and rework technology investment fund Breakthrough Victoria as part of broader public sector reforms set to save the state $4 billion. The decision has rattled the state’s startup sector, and spells an uncertain future for state-backed accelerators, grants, and investment funds tailored to local talent.… Read more »

AI/Machine Learning

Here’s who benefits from the Australian government’s National AI Plan

- December 3, 2025 4 MIN READ

On Tuesday, the Albanese Labor government released the long-awaited National AI Plan, “a whole-of-government framework that ensures technology works for people, not the other way around”. With this plan, the government promises an inclusive artificial intelligence (AI) economy that protects workers, fills service gaps, and supports local AI development. In a major reversal, it also… Read more »

AI/Machine Learning

The Australian government releases DIY National AI Plan, telling industry to figure it out for themselves on disclosure

- December 2, 2025 3 MIN READ

The Albanese government has unveiled Australia’s first National AI Plan, opting for voluntary transparency measures rather than mandatory rules on how businesses disclose their use of artificial intelligence. The 37-page plan sets out a broad roadmap for building what the government calls “an AI-enabled economy” while maintaining a “careful balance between innovation and protection from… Read more »

Business

Google cops $55 million fine for anti-competitive revenue deal with Optus and Telstra on search for Android phones

- December 2, 2025 2 MIN READ

Google Asia Pacific will pay $55 million in penalties for engaging in anti-competitive conduct over a deal it struck with Telstra and Optus to only pre-install Google Search on Android phones the telcos sold. The fine was ratified by the Federal Court today, following legal action from the competition watchdog the ACCC. The search giant… Read more »