Business

It’s your last chance to have your say in the 2025 Startup Muster survey

- August 15, 2025 < 1 MIN READ

Responses to the annual census of Australia’s startup ecoystem, Startup Muster close this Monday August 18. Survey founder Murray Hurps, that for the first time they have survey coordinators on the ground in every Australian state and territory to ensure the feedback is truly representative of what’s happening across the nation. “Startup Muster has been on… Read more »

AI/Machine Learning

Tech Council boss Scott Farquhar says it’s cool to lift Atlassian’s IP without paying for it if we all get better software

- August 13, 2025 3 MIN READ

Atlassian cofounder Scott Farquhar said he wouldn’t mind if others took the $60 billion tech company’s intellectual property without paying for it if it leads to better software. The Tech Council of Australia chair, who stepped down as Atlassian co-CEO last year, but remains on the board, has been advocating for changes to Australian copyright… Read more »

Funding

Queensland’s $180 million sovereign industry fund is looking for ideas to back

- August 13, 2025 < 1 MIN READ

The Queensland government has opened applications for its new $180.6 million Sovereign Industry Development Fund, which will invest in defence, biomedical and biofuels companies in the state. Deputy Premier and state development, infrastructure and planning minister Jarrod Bleijie, said the fund will collaborate on “strategic and catalytic partnerships that will accelerate development in our priority… Read more »

Zetifi founder Dan Winson
Ag tech

Smart antenna startup Zetifi tunes in on $5 million grant

- August 12, 2025 2 MIN READ

Farm communications startup Zetifi has landed a $5 million from the Australian Government’s Industry Growth Program for a $10 million plan to commercialise its smart antenna platform globally.  The regional NSW startup extends the range of data connectivity and communications on remote properties by transforming antennas from passive components into devices using RF (radio frequency)… Read more »

Working Kangaroo
AI/Machine Learning

The Productivity Commission’s take on AI regulation, data, privacy and how to help the digital economy – explained by one of its coauthors

- August 6, 2025 3 MIN READ

Data and new digital technologies such as artificial intelligence present an opportunity to get Australia back on the path to productivity growth. But we can only seize this opportunity with the right policy framework. Australia can unlock billions in economic value through strategic reforms to data access, artificial intelligence regulation, and digital infrastructure. The Productivity… Read more »

Global tech

Elon Musk’s Starlink loses out to Amazon in supplying satellite broadband for Australia’s NBN Co.

- August 5, 2025 2 MIN READ

Government-owned NBN Co has chosen Amazon’s Project Kuiper’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology for high-speed, wholesale fixed broadband to customers in sections of regional, rural and remote Australia. The decision sidelines Elon Musk’s Starlink, which launched in Australia in 2021, and has around 200,000 local customers, and was also pitching for the NBN contract.… Read more »

Business

Get your responses in to the 2025 Startup Muster survey by August 18

- August 4, 2025 2 MIN READ

Responses to the annual census of Australia’s startup ecoystem, Startup Muster close on August 18, so you have just two weeks left to have your say. – from educators to investors, accelerators, incubators, coworking spaces, service providers, government, precincts and professional services supporting startups – delivering a clear and comprehensive picture of the state of… Read more »

Peter Thiel
Global tech

All about right-wing tech investor Peter Thiel, who’s reshaped US politics all the way to the White House

- August 4, 2025 8 MIN READ

The money is easy to trace. Scroll back through tech entrepreneur Peter Thiel’s political donations and you’ll soon hit US$15 million worth of transfers sent to Protect Ohio Values, JD Vance’s campaign fund. The donations, made in 2022, are a staggering contribution to an individual senate race, and helped put Vance (Thiel’s former employee at… Read more »

Elon Musk
Business

Elon Musk’s attempt to avoid a $610,500 Australian fine over Twitter’s failures to report on tackling child sexual abuse just tanked. Again.

- August 1, 2025 3 MIN READ

Elon Musk’s Twitter, now rebranded as X, has gone down for a second time in court trying to avoid a $610,500 penalty imposed by Australia’s eSafety Commission for failing to properly respond to requests for information on how it tackles child sexual abuse material on the social media site X Corp initially failed to report on how… Read more »

Scott Farquhar
AI/Machine Learning

Tech Council boss Scott Farquhar on Australia’s AI future and techno optimism to team up with government

- August 1, 2025 12 MIN READ

Over my career, I’ve always preferred doing rather than talking. Building things, solving problems, creating new ventures, not giving speeches about them. But I’m here today because I believe Australia is standing at the edge of the next great industrial revolution. One powered not by steam or electricity – but by artificial intelligence. And like… Read more »

AI/Machine Learning

An information expert factchecks OpenAI’s claims AI could deliver $115 billion in annual gains to Australia’s economy

- July 31, 2025 4 MIN READ

AI is on the agenda in Canberra. In August, the Productivity Commission will release an interim report on harnessing data and digital technology such as AI “to boost productivity growth, accelerate innovation and improve government services”. Shortly afterward, the government will host an Economic Reform Roundtable where AI policy will be up for discussion. AI… Read more »

Climate Tech

How our cities are turning into giant batteries

- July 28, 2025 4 MIN READ

As the electrification of transport and heating accelerates, many worry the increased demand could overload national power grids. In Australia, electricity consumption is expected to double by 2050. If everyone charges their car and heats water using electric systems at the same time, peak demand could rise sharply, forcing costly grid upgrades. But this would… Read more »

Advice

Melbourne’s innovation crisis is about culture – and what comes next

- July 22, 2025 3 MIN READ

While Melbourne prepares for another glossy startup gala, let’s talk about what won’t be on the menu. Victoria’s startup agency has locked away $160m+ in public funding—yet no grassroots event support since 2019. VicGov spent $7 m+ on DIF (Digital Innovation Futures)—and it quietly shut down. Melbourne Convention Bureau backs only international events (e.g., C2, GEC)… Read more »