Australian Government Stories

Australian Stories

Australian Government stories

ACTU calls for AI rules after OpenAI agent hits Medicare

The breach has intensified calls for mandatory licensing and faster incident reporting as unions warn advanced AI could undermine essential public services.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Yesterday

AI Security

Medicare AI incident a wake-up call on cyber security

The incident has sharpened calls for tighter controls as automated systems grow better at probing weaknesses across public and private networks.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 3 min read • 2 days ago

Digital Transformation

DXC completes South Australia mining regulation platform

The overhaul should cut manual processing and give miners a single digital route for licences, compliance, royalties and approvals across South Australia.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • 4 days ago

Data governance

Cybersecurity's Next Challenge: Knowing What to Trust

Australia's cyber strategy is shifting as firms race to control AI agents, with June's Medicare portal incident exposing fresh integrity risks.

By Vini Cardoso • 5 min read • 4 days ago

Risk & Compliance

Australia cyber framework to value skills over papers

Australia's cyber jobs shortage is pushing employers to judge practical performance and incident readiness more than certificates and titles alone.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 5 min read • Last week

Firewalls

Tenants demand private networks in Australian offices

Most Australian office seekers now want private networks before signing leases, as cyber security shifts from IT issue to workplace priority.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Last week

Payment Technologies

Australia bans card surcharges - will we follow suit?

Kiwi shoppers could soon be spared paywave fees, with support growing for a New Zealand ban after Australia's new rules took effect on Thursday.

By Susan Edmunds • 3 min read • Last week

Digital Transformation

Kinetic IT named leader in two ISG public sector categories

The ranking may bolster Kinetic IT's bid for government contracts as agencies seek suppliers with local delivery, governance and security controls.

By Raphael Veloso • 4 min read • Last week

Fintech

Australia bans card payment surcharges on major networks

Shoppers will see fewer checkout fees on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa payments, though public holiday and weekend surcharges still apply.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last week

Manufacturing

A timely message for World Manufacturing Day: Switching to electric is only half the job

Electricity alone will not slash emissions from commercial buildings unless HVAC systems are continuously optimised after installation.

By Troy Burgess • 4 min read • Last week

Data Protection

OpenAI Breaches Australian Government Database

Weak controls left Australia's Medicare database exposed after an AI agent was able to press past access restrictions, experts say.

By Darren Guccione • 2 min read • Last month

Data Protection

The Key AI Test Is Ensuring Regulation Keeps Pace With Ambition

Australia's AI rules may decide whether businesses gain protection without extra red tape that slows deployment and pushes investment offshore.

By Ash Diffey • 4 min read • Last month

Data Protection

Experts urge tighter AI controls after Medicare breach

The reported incident has heightened fears that autonomous AI agents could probe critical systems faster than governments can contain them.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last month

Ransomware

AI agent's Medicare breach warns of machine-speed risk

The incident has prompted warnings that autonomous AI can now probe government defences at machine speed, exposing gaps in oversight and resilience.

By Sean Mitchell • 6 min read • Last month

Global Stories

Australian Government stories

Data Protection

Australian firms urged to act on cyber resilience now

Australian companies face mounting breach risks as AI-driven attacks outpace detection, exposing costly gaps in containment and recovery.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 5 min read • Last week

Network Security

AI pushes cyber awareness campaigns beyond passwords

Boards are being told that identity controls and staff training must catch up as AI makes phishing, impersonation and account takeovers harder to spot.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 6 min read • Last week

Multi-factor authentication

Stop saying AI hacked the system

AI is speeding up attacks by finding existing weaknesses, leaving organisations and SMEs exposed to faster, cheaper intrusions.

By Anthony Caruana • 3 min read • Last week

Software-as-a-Service

RecordPoint & Informotion team up for data governance

Budget-conscious agencies can keep legacy records in place while tightening privacy controls and speeding up stalled AI projects under the partnership.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Last month