News

The power of the private pitchfest

There are a variety of government programs aimed at raising the business profile of technology startups. This support, from state and federal governments, ranges from sponsoring the beer at...

BCA plan misses innovation mark

If you were searching for a world-class innovation policy to drive productivity and growth across the economy, the Business Council of Australia is probably not going to be the...

STEM strategy paper launched

The nation’s Chief Scientist Ian Chubb has been busy. He has been talking up the need for a national strategy on improving STEM capabilities in Australia since he was...

Public sector holds back Israel

As incredible as it sounds for a country as successful in the startup sector as Israel, the country’s low productivity and the slow uptake of technology by government is...

ICT teachers need an upgrade

Australian industry will continue to suffer shortages of work-ready ICT graduates if employers don’t invest more in the education process, according to the Australian Council of Deans of ICT. Releasing...

ICT Skills: Crisis? What crisis?

The Australian Workplace and Productivity Agency’s ICT Workforce Study has sunk without a trace. Which is a shame. It is a serious piece of work that deserves some industry attention, even...

Immigration daze: 888 slow lane

New numbers released by the Department of Immigration show continued strong interest in the Significant Investor Visa program, which has now attracted more than 504 expressions of interest from...

PwC startup report ignores China

The PwC report on ‘The Startup Economy‘ that has been floating around the innovation sector is a cracking read. It is slightly crazy in its heroic assumptions and tales...

VC: Patience is a virtue

The startup sector’s relentless pursuit of a bigger chunk of Australia’s superannuation funds is a bit like Herman Melville’s hunt for a great white whale. How hard could it...

Mike Quigley was the right choice

Everyone has an opinion about Mike Quigley’s performance as the founding CEO of the NBN Company. No-one seems shy about sharing their view. So here’s my two-bits. Mike Quigley...

Tech skills plan looks familiar

The Australian Workplace and Productivity Agency today released a report that outlines in detail what the industry has long known: That Australia produces too few ICT graduates, that it is too...

New Ministry: Albo is not enough

Anthony Albanese is one of this parliament’s best performers, always on the front-foot and always scrapping. The new Prime Minister’s decision to give him Communications portfolio is not a...

ICT needs a single policy home

Let’s move responsibility for the tech sector away from the oily-rag end of industry policy once and for all. It must surely be time for ICT industry development to...

Game Changer: 888 investment visas

There is a flood of investment money heading to Australia from high net worth individuals seeking permanent residency in this country through a special new class of investor visa....