Australian Government - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• Facebook gets 650 government requests for user data

  Facebook received 650 requests from the Australian government for user data in the first half of 2014, up slightly from the 640 requests made in the last six months of 2013.
  

• Startups win reform in Abbott's competitiveness agenda

  The Australian government will reform how employee share options are taxed to make it easier for startups to attract and retain talent, as part of a $400 million Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda unveiled today by Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

• Australian government data requests to Yahoo drop in 2014

  Australian government requests for data to Yahoo during the period January 1 to June 30, 2014 were 375, down from 608 requests in July 1 to December 31 last year, the company reported this week.

• Feds inch closer to more widespread cloud services

  The Federal Government is edging closer to providing agencies with easier access to cloud services following the release today of a draft head agreement for a whole-of-government cloud panel.
  

• Feds appoint new data centre panel

  The Federal Government has added four suppliers to its Data Centre Facilities Supplies Panel as part of its program to cut costs and increase the efficiency of its technology infrastructure.
  

• The digital disruption of the CIO

  The Australian government’s decision to abolish the CIO role indicates a profound misunderstanding of the impact that the public sector’s use of technology has on the broader economy.
  

• Cloud vendors not cutting it, say govt CIOs

  Everyone’s talking about cloud computing, but some government CIOs are still not convinced, arguing that the market is still immature with one saying that some vendors are simply “repackaging” outsourcing services.
  

• Tax cuts deferred as carbon price falls

  The federal government has deferred a $1.59 a week tax cut, which was due to start in 2015, because of the falling global carbon price.

• Big miners outline plans to reduce mining tax

  Australia might never generate significant income from the mining tax, with three of the nation's largest miners outline plans to use up to $34.8 billion in tax credits to reduce future payments.

• Inside the government’s data centre transformation

  In April 2008, the Australian government engaged Sir Peter Gershon to lead an independent review of its use and management of ICT. At the time, the government was spending $870 million per year on outsourced and insourced data centres.