InnovationAus Podcast

A highly anticipated speech by the Prime Minister this week reset Australia's AI policy. But it lacked key details and any mention of how local startups and researchers will benefit. InnovationAus editor Justin Hendry was in the room and unpacks the detail, plus how the sector reacted.

National AI Centre executive director Lee Hickin spent a career in some of the largest tech companies in the world, from Microsoft to Amazon Web Services. He is now at the helm of a nationwide effort to drive the planning and adoption of AI across the economy. In this episode of the Commercial Disco, Mr Hickin says the nervousness among SMEs about AI is real, but so is the upside.

Some of the most consequential policy decisions of the Albanese government's current term are expected to be announced in the coming weeks, on data centres, AI and copyright. In this episode of NewsWrap, InnovationAus editor Justin Hendry looks at the policy development process, and unpacks some likely outcomes.

Australia's Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy delivered a new Defence industry development strategy (DIDS) to a packed house at the National Press Club this week. There were few surprises, with a focus on the minister's ongoing procurement reform. InnovationAus editor Justin Hendry unpacks the detail.

A 32-year veteran of the Australian Army, Lieutenant-General Michelle McGuinness CSC is Australia's National Cyber Security Coodinator, working as a senior uniformed officer inside the civilian Department of Home Affairs. In this episode of Delivery, she discusses how the tech industry, government and critical infrastructure providers are coming together to make the country more resilient.

In this episode of the Commercial Disco podcast, InnovationAus.com publisher Corrie McLeod talks to Bradfield Development Authority chief executive Ken Morrison and a BDA board member Dr Cathy Foley about how Bradfield City is being built to help Australia turn world-class research into globally competitive industries. They discuss the role of the Advanced Manufacturing Readiness Facility (AMRF), the importance of advanced manufacturing and semiconductor packaging, and why creating the right innovation ecosystem could enable more Australian companies to scale, manufacture and grow locally.

In this episode of NewsWrap, InnovationAus editor Justin Hendry digs into the looming policy showdown on AI copyright. The issue has been the subject of blushingly large lobbying campaigns in Canberra, with the policy debate happening largely behind closed doors. The PM says major announcements are scheduled for the middle of July.

Australia's public sector has no shortage of data. The problem is turning it into actionable intelligence. Elastic's A/NZ regional vice president of public sector and education Anna Mascarello steps through the challenge with InnovationAus.com publisher Corrie McLeod on the Commercial Disco(very) podcast.

Australian Federal Police chief technology officer Krissie Auld began her career as an environmental researcher studying water birds, an unusual starting point for a leader charged with operating cutting edge infrastructure for a key national security agency. In this episode, Ms Auld talks candidly about horizon scanning strategies, and how she engages with industry to keep across the best available tech.

In a big week for tech news, James Riley and Justin Hendry talk through Pauline Hanson's populist grab for AI job displacement unhappiness, the CGT changes and the Trump administration's Anthropic export control bombshell.