Stories by Michael Crawford

The NSW government is slated to spend some $73 million on IT-oriented projects in 2006-07.

Details surrounding costing for the federal government's access card initiative remain elusive, but last week's Senate Estimates hearings has revealed that consultancy fees will certainly top $2 million.

Accountants and tax agents have hit the spotlight as the hot targets of identity thieves intent on harvesting personal data through social engineering tricks and malicious code because it is easier to steal an ID than create a false one..

Special Minister of State Gary Nairn has vehemently backed the use of standards for Australian e-government frameworks during the keynote address today at the AusCert 2006 conference.

A greater emphasis on end user training is needed if the government wants to improve the national e-security agenda, according to the Australian Computer Society's submission to the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts in its review of the E-Security National Agenda.

The federal government has laid out nearly $300 million to reduce social security fraud and lessen the amount of incorrect payments before introducing the "access card system using smartcard technology".

Shadow Minister for Human Services Kelvin Thomson has labelled the $1.1 billion costing for the federal government's smartcard rollout as "fictional".

The Department of Defence is reviewing policy on agency usage of unclassified wireless networks on the back of a US-led mandate.

NSW Health has announced a three-year deal to standardize all desktops, servers and core infrastructure within local and state health outlets on Microsoft gear.

Australia's maritime industry is using innovative technical solutions to deal with a new security mandate to be introduced by January 1, 2007.

The Australian federal government has signed a whole-of-government agreement with Microsoft to exchange information on security issues ranging from cyberterrorism and general security bulletins.

Only five agencies across the whole of government have taken steps to comply with a new e-mail mandate which was announced last September.

The federal government has given the go-ahead for $55 million so the Australian Navy can buy broadband satellite terminals for five Anzac-class frigates and one guided missile frigate.

The Northern Territory government has selected Fujitsu for a four-year desktop and helpdesk service contract worth $150 million, ousting incumbent service provider CSC Australia.

Federal senator Helen Coonan has retained the Communications, Information Technology and Arts portfolio in a Cabinet reshuffle announced by the Prime Minister John Howard last week.