Politics

$1.3 billion defence drone project canned as Budget spends $10 billion on boosting offensive cybersecurity capabilities

- April 7, 2022 2 MIN READ

The government’s REDSPICE cyber security program – a $9.9 billion centrepiece to last week’s budget – has come at the cost of a $1.3 billion Sky Guardian drone project which has already set taxpayers back $10 million, senate estimates revealed on Friday. Despite the $9.9 billion headline figure championed by the Treasurer in his budget speech, a… Read more »

Politics

‘A grim outcome’: startup and tech sector reactions to the 2022 Budget measures

- March 30, 2022 15 MIN READ

There’s been a mixed reaction to the Morrison government’s last budget before the election. While The Tech Council of Australia welcomed the measures for small business offering additional tax deductions for employers who invest in digital skills training for their staff, while William Buck startup advisor and accountant Jack Qi gave the budget a “C-”… Read more »

funding
Politics

The election bribes budget: cash sweeteners for voters to stick with the Coalition

- March 29, 2022 3 MIN READ

When Josh Frydenberg says his key cost-of-living budget measures are “temporary” and “targeted”, he’s precisely right, though the reasons are more opportunistic than he’d spruik publicly. He says it’s all about giving help when it’s needed while not baking in long-term spending. But actually, and equally, the measures are aimed squarely at the imminent election,… Read more »

Politics

BUDGET: Petrol excise cut by 22 cents, $420 cash splash for lower paid, $2bn for women, more parental leave

- March 29, 2022 3 MIN READ

The Morrison government’s election budget halves petrol excise for six months and gives handouts to taxpayers, pensioners and welfare recipients in a cash splash aimed at clawing back votes. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who unveiled the giveaway budget in Parliament House on Tuesday night, has been able to juggle big spending with a reduced deficit thanks… Read more »

Politics

A Russian-born Australian investor explains how Ukrainian startups he supports are adapting to survive

- March 10, 2022 4 MIN READ

The devastation in Ukraine has put into sharp contrast the ridiculousness of the startup industry’s obsession with capital raising and marketing hype. The military metaphors baked into our general business strategies become laughable at a time like this. This was explained best by senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, Frank V. Cespedes, in the Harvard… Read more »

Politics

Why Australian politicians should welcome the AGL takeover plan by Mike Cannon-Brookes

- February 25, 2022 4 MIN READ

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has flatly opposed the bid led by tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes to buy Australia’s biggest energy company AGL and spend A$20 billion switching it to renewables. This includes closing its coal power stations by 2030. As Morrison stated this week: We need to ensure that our coal-fired generation of electricity runs… Read more »