As the dust settles on Jim Chalmers' fifth Budget, the Australian startup sector has reacted to the proposed changes to the Capital Gains Tax discount ... and they're not happy. In this episode of NewsWrap James Riley talks to InnovationAus.com editor Justin Hendry about this and other big stories for the week.
Fresh from lockup, the InnovationAus.com team digs into the Albanese government's 2026 budget to unpack the initial response to SERD, sweeping changes to R&D tax incentives and cuts to commercialisation grants to pay for science and research.
In this week's NewsWrap, InnovationAus.com's James Riley and Justin Hendry discuss upcoming changes to federal procurement rules to keep pace with AI, growing calls for stronger AI oversight and why the startup community is sounding the alarm over CGT reforms.
In this episode of the Commercial Disco podcast, InnovationAus.com publisher Corrie McLeod talks to DigiCert chief trust officer Lakshmi Hanspal about the impact of artificial intelligence on the foundational trust systems that have helped protect the internet for decades.
In this episode of the DELIVERY: A GovTech Podcast, Services Australia general manager for Customer and Staff Digital Platforms Jordan Hatch discusses the evolution of digital, the opportunities for AI, and the challenge of chipping away at tech debt.
The biggest tech news stories of the past week are the two year anniversary of Australia's stake in PsiQuantum and Defence's new Secretary. In this episode of NewsWrap, we unpack both, plus Justin's trip to German manufacturing heartland and more.
For the past two years, the enterprise technology conversation has been about artificial intelligence. But the real transformation challenge is not about AI, it's about the core systems and data operating underneath. IBRS senior advisor Dr Joe Sweeney talks with InnovationAus publisher Corrie McLeod on the Commercial Disco podcast.
The Department of Parliamentary Services is responsible for one of the most geographically diverse technology operations in Australia, covering 246 electorate offices around the country, in addition to the specialist services it runs at Parliament House in Canberra. In this episode of Delivery: A GovTech Podcast, CIO Mike Webb talks about the information systems keeping the wheels of demoncracy turning.
There are no shortage of world-class innovations coming through the Australian MedTech sector. But too often these innovative companies have to find their first customers overseas - because Australia's health sector procurement teams have a blind-spot for local suppliers. Professor Ian Meredith is a veteran of the local MedTech sector and joins the Commercial Disco to discuss this paradox.
Australia's research supercomputers are the critical digital layer of national research infrastructure. They underpin industry-relevant research as varied as resources and energy, pharmaceuticals and human health, and the environment. Mark Stickells, CEO at the Pawsey Supercomputer Centre, talks through what it takes to build one of this massive systems.
The biggest tech news story of the past week is a new National Defence Strategy and investment plan. In this episode of NewsWrap, we unpack both and what it means for Australia's Defence and dual use tech ecosystem.
Kersti Eesmaa is the former Ambassador of Estonia to Australia, and a key driver behind efforts to build a Cyber Civilian Reserve. The civilian reserve force would provide a surge capacity of cyber professionals in the event of large-scale cyber attack, to help existing Defence and public sector cybersecutiry personnel.
Chris Fechner of the Digital Transformation Agency discusses the DTA's evolution from a delivery to an advisory role, overcoming initial challenges, and its strategic influence on government digital services. He also details efforts to streamline procurement for Australian businesses and outlines the cautious, principle-based approach to integrating AI while tackling significant legacy tech debt.
The biggest tech news story of the past week is the Artemis II mission. After more than 50 years, Humankind heads back to the moon. In this episode of NewsWrap, we talk about the echoes of the past - and in particular, the amazing flight of Apollo 8.
Kate Parr of Leidos Australia discusses the journey of digital modernization for government, from the promise of cloud and AI to the realities of navigating legacy systems, security demands, and workforce gaps. She emphasizes strategies like foundational data work, proof-of-concept approaches, and an agile mindset, stressing that technology must align with business needs. The conversation also delves into the paramount importance of data sovereignty, security by design, and understanding unique Commonwealth compliance requirements for successful GovTech delivery.
RNA Australia's new NSW-funded pilot facility will translate university RNA research into commercial treatments, accelerating clinical trials and enabling sovereign manufacturing for future health crises. CEO Paul McDonald details the facility's role, the impact of COVID-19, and RNA's platform technology. The discussion also covers AI's accelerating role in drug discovery, Australia's strong IP environment, and strategies for building a robust local biotech ecosystem through government support and attracting entrepreneurial talent.
Charles McHardie, Services Australia's Chief Information and Digital Officer, details the agency's core mission of ensuring resilience, stability, and security for its massive public-facing digital systems. He highlights the advantages of their large in-house APS technology workforce and strategic efforts to attract talent. The discussion also covers the cautious yet impactful integration of AI for productivity in IT service management, cybersecurity, and software development, alongside the importance of engaging with Australian tech SMEs and fostering sovereign capability for future challenges.
Former Chief Scientist Dr. Cathy Foley details Australia's National Semiconductor Roadmap, emphasizing the nation's strength in research, compound semiconductors, and raw materials, rather than large-scale CMOS manufacturing. She highlights the importance of supply chain sovereignty, the role of the Semiconductor Sector Service Bureau (SB3) in facilitating international fabrication, and draws parallels with the successful National Quantum Roadmap. The discussion also covers the interplay between quantum and semiconductors, the development of niche foundries, and Australia's strategic focus on industrial resilience and a skilled workforce for future technologies.
In this episode of Delivery: A GovTech Podcast, we talk to Finance department Chief AI Officer about the roll-out of artificial intelligence across the federal government, and the best ways to engage with government on AI projects.
Rhys Kissell is an electrical engineer who focused on the electro-magnetic spectrum. He is ex-Navy and an electronic warfare specialist. In this episode of the Commercial Disco, Mr Kissell talks about a recent visit to a defence technology trade show in Ukraine, and how he is building a DefenceTech startup call Panop to help the war effort.
The long awaited Data Centre Principles landed this week (albeit re-branded as 'expectations') and the federal government announced that it would fast-track negotiations to join the $155 billion Horizon Europe research program. Justin Hendry and James Riley talk through the biggest stories in Australian tech policy.
In this episode of Commercial Disco, InnovationAus.com publisher Corrie McLeod speaks with Mandy Andress, chief information security officer at Elastic, about the evolving cyber landscape for government.
Science and Technology Australia CEO Ryan Winn breaks down the Strategic Examination of R&D (SERD) report, highlighting its balanced approach to foundational research and business innovation. He discusses the urgent need for cohesive implementation, addresses concerns about governance fragmentation, and frames R&D as critical for Australia's economic future amid global challenges like AI and climate change. The conversation also touches on record engagement for ScienceMeets Parliament and the need for sustainable research funding.
In this episode of NewsWrap, James Riley and InnovationAus.com editor Justin Hendry unpick the many threads of the Strategic Examination of R&D and its many recommendations.
Science communicator Zion Lights has been a prominent voice in the UK on issues of climate and energy. She is a one-time spokesperson for environmental group Extinction Rebellion, but has changed her views and now argues forcefully for nuclear energy as the most effective way to decarbonise the grid.
In this episode of Commercial Disco, InnovationAus.com publisher Corrie McLeod talks to the global CEO of Smart Communications Leigh Segall about what's next for digital government, and explores emerging issues of Trust and Technology in the public sector.
In this special episode of NewsWrap [LIVE] InnovationAus.com editor Justin Hendry talks to James Riley about the biggest tech stories of the week, including Atlassian's 1,600 job cuts, Allegra Spender's tax reform proposals, and the new AI CRC dollar commitments that won't arrive until 2028.
In this episode of the Commercial Disco, shadow spokesman for Science, Technology and Innovation Aaron Violi renews Opposition calls for government to lift the 25-year moratorium on nuclear energy. The data centre opportunity demands it, he says.
On a day that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney came to Canberra to sell the benefits of middle power collaboration on sectors like critical minerals and AI, InnovationAus editor Justin Hendry joins James Riley to discuss the week's biggest stories.
In the episode of the Commercial Disco podcast, University of NSW Scientia Professor Toby Walsh talks to InnovationAus publisher Corrie McLeod about what it will take – including government investment in Australian capability – to take advantage of global AI opportunities and mitigate global AI risks.
