Category: News

Communication challenges: Affordability restricts digital inclusion in remote areas

Internet access in Australia’s remote and very remote communities has improved over the past two years, driven by enhanced 4G, Wi-Fi, and satellite infrastructure across...

Online Safety Amendment Bill ensures age-appropriate social media use

The Albanese Government has fulfilled its commitment to support parents and protect young people by legislating a minimum social media age of 16, with the...

Television access prioritised for remote Australian communities

The Albanese Government has delivered legislation that enables continued access to television broadcasting services in remote and regional Australia. The Communications Legislation Amendment (Regional Broadcasting...

NSW applauds stricter regulations on social media for children

The NSW Government has welcomed the Federal Government’s new law banning social media for children under 16, with the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum...

New leadership for the Classification Board: Steven Thomson takes the helm

The Albanese Government has appointed Steven Thomson as Director of the Classification Board and reappointed Hellen Perko as a full-time member, both for two-year terms....

Federal grants to support local and independent journalism

The Albanese Government is fulfilling its pledge to support public interest journalism with applications now open for the $15 million News Media Relief Program (NMRP)....

$48M funding boost to improve mobile coverage on regional NSW roads

The Australian and Minns Labor Governments have announced up to $48 million in joint funding to enhance mobile coverage. This initiative will benefit highways and...

Government investment transforms broadband communication in Queensland

Over 800,000 homes and businesses in Queensland can now upgrade to world-class full-fibre NBN broadband. This upgrade has been made possible through investment from the...

eSafety exposes communication risks in tech-enabled coercive control

New research from eSafety reveals that nearly a quarter of Australians believe it’s reasonable to have access to a partner’s device codes. Additionally, over 1...

‘Big Tech on notice’: Prioritising safety in platform design and communication

The Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society has released its final report, putting “Big Tech on notice.” It calls for increased accountability...

New legislation targets harmful digital misinformation while safeguarding free speech

Serious misinformation and disinformation threaten safety, election integrity, democracy, and national security. Eighty per cent of Australians are calling for action. The Communications Legislation Amendment...

New law mandates proactive safety measures by tech companies

The Albanese Government is committed to protecting Australians through world-leading online safety laws. As part of this effort, it will legislate a Digital Duty of...

ACCAN highlights unresolved telco complaints in TIO report

ACCAN has welcomed the release of data from the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, praising its transparency. The report highlights a slight year-on-year rise in complaints and...

Dating industry faces pressure to tackle online abuse

New research emphasises the importance of dating apps safeguarding Australians from sexual predators, calling for enhanced measures to ensure user safety and security. The increasing...

Telcos to prioritise customer updates during major outages

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has introduced new rules for the telecommunications industry. These rules require companies to prioritise customer communications during major...

Elevating public sector engagement at the 19th Social Media for Gov Summit

The 19th Social Media for Gov Summit, held from 30 October to 1 November 2024 at the Pullman Albert Park Melbourne, brought together public sector...

One year later: how the Optus outage shaped emergency and customer communications

One year after the nationwide Optus outage, the Albanese Government has made significant strides in enhancing telecommunications network resilience. Improvements include better complaints handling and...

New legislation places responsibility on social media platforms for age compliance

The Albanese Government will introduce legislation to set 16 as the minimum age for social media access. This move follows endorsement by the National Cabinet....

Albanese Government invests in reliable mobile coverage along key Victorian roads

The Albanese Government has announced $8 million in funding to improve mobile coverage along highways and major roads in regional Victoria. This initiative will benefit...

Government delivers broadband upgrades for millions

The Albanese Government is boosting Australia’s digital capacity. More than nine million homes and businesses can now access the fastest broadband speeds on the National...