Why the RBA is wrong about zoning and house prices. Again.
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Category: Business and Economy
Latest Independent Commentary on Business & the Economy
Snow Job: why the cover-up over Snowy Hydro 2.0?
The National Parks Association of NSW and ex-Energy Australia chair Ted Woodley are considering a legal challenge to the $10 billion Snowy 2.0, which they say will push back the transition to renewable energy and destroy thousands of hectares of national park, in light of the fact that the whole
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Cyber strategy a big miss for local industry
The government’s $1.7 billion cybersecurity strategy’s lack of focus on the local industry is “frustrating” and a “wasted opportunity”, according to CyRise chief executive Scott Handsaker. The strategy was finally launched late last week with a focus on protecting the nation’s essential infrastructure from cyber-attacks, handing additional powers to
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Lost children of the digital revolution
In 2008 – the year that the first round of “Service Delivery Reform” was getting underway – my daughter had her first baby. The bureaucracy would come to call this ‘a life event’. At the time, I was the Chief Technology Architect of the Department of Human Services, responsible
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ATO confirms R&D tax claw-back plan
More than a quarter of companies claiming the research and development tax incentive this quarter may have some of their offset clawed back if the government pushes ahead with its planned changes to the scheme, the Australian Taxation Office has confirmed. The Coalition announced plans to make a series
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Labor demands AFP answers on encryption
Australian law enforcement agencies are yet to use the coercive anti-encryption powers handed to them nearly two years ago, with Labor MPs questioning whether they are necessary at all. The Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (TOLA) Act provides law enforcement with new powers to compel tech companies to provide
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More Independent Commentary on Business & the Economy
Baseline metrics needed for cyber strategy
Late last week (August 6), the Department of Home Affairs finally released the much anticipated Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy 2020. It follows hot on the heels of the industry advisory panel’s recommendations report (July 21) which sought to feed 60 recommendations from industry into the 2020 Strategy. In my
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Flexible workspace on the rise in Asa Pacific
https://www.thefifthestate.com.au/articles/flexible-workspace-on-the-rise-in-asa-pacific/In the...
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US sanctions policy ‘on steroids’: a legitimate tool or is Donald Trump using it for retribution?
Trump is adding to the US sanctions list at a rate never seen before, without Congressional oversight or the requirement to produce evidence. Sanctioning the International Criminal Court over its unanimous ruling to investigate US military personnel for alleged war crimes could see the names of victims of war crimes
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Bureau of Meteorology: under pressure to toe the Coalition line on climate change?
While the UK’s Met Office is out there educating the public, BoM is remarkably coy about any public discussion of climate change. Questions have also been asked whether its senior leadership is too close to the gas industry. Sandi Keane investigates.
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What we’re reading in Australia and overseas
https://www.thefifthestate.com.au/business/what-were-reading-in-australia-and-overseas/BNP Paribas does good French bank BNP Paribas SA released A$140 million in green bonds as a reward to 100 companies on the Australian Climate...
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Cyber strategy a missed local opportunity
If anyone were waiting on the Australian Government Cyber Security Strategy 2020 to include a set of industry policies that would help grow the local cyber security sector, they will have been massively disappointed. The strategy document, delivered by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton
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AFP used encryption law three times last year
The Australian Federal Police used its new encryption-busting powers only three times in the last year and is still yet to call on the more forceful elements of the controversial regime. The Telecommunications and Other Legislation Act (TOLA) hands powers to agencies and law enforcement to compel tech companies
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No surprises: 2020 cyber security strategy
The federal government has finally released its $1.7 billion 2020 Cyber Security Strategy, with initiatives including new laws to protect critical infrastructure, additional powers for police to target the ‘dark web’ and efforts to improve the cyber resilience of small business. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Home Affairs Minister
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Old Media v New: can government do Murdoch’s bidding and force Google to pay for news?
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp reckons it’s $1 billion. Google reckons it’s a piddling $10 million. News and Nine Entertainment have enlisted the Government and the ACCC in their battle to force Google to pay for their news content. Just how much money does Google Australia make from traffic to its
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