Parliament may have finished for the year, but that just means there’s time for some announcements. Cybersecurity! Foreign influence! The myGov app! DNS! And more.
Here are the digital developments from Canberra I’ve noticed since the previous edition on 2 December.
- Home affairs minister Clare O’Neil spoke at the National Press Club and did the customary Q&A. She announced an intention to make Australia the world’s most cyber-secure country by 2030, appointing an Expert Advisory Board to develop a new national cybersecurity strategy. I’ll be following this with interest, because I’m on record as calling the Morrison government’s 2020 strategy drab and inward-looking.
- After much delay, the government has finally launched the myGov app, which is claims will make it “simpler to sign in to your account, easier to view Inbox messages and quicker to access services. There is also a digital wallet where you can store some of your government digital cards and certificates.” However as InnovationAus notes, promised functionality is missing.
- The Senate inquiry into the Influence of international digital platforms has released an issues paper to help guide people making a submission. Submissions close 28 February 2023.
- “The federal government has mandated that agencies use protective domain name system services to prevent malware and other infections from malicious websites,” reports InnovationAus. The UK has been doing this for some years now and in my view it’s a very good thing indeed.
- The Robodebt Royal Commission has been hearing evidence again this week. I haven’t had time to follow it in any detail, so you’ll have to check our the news stories for yourself. I can certainly recommend Rick Morton’s coverage in The Saturday Paper, but the Guardian has also been all over it.
- Finally, an interesting headline from the Guardian today: Senior public servant under scrutiny at robodebt inquiry appointed head of Aukus project office.
Please let me know if I’ve missed anything, or if there’s any specific items you’d like me to follow.
Parliament is scheduled (PDF) to return on Monday 6 February 2023.
Update 6.50pm: “Parliament will be recalled next week to ensure Australian households and businesses get relief from soaring energy bills under a deal struck at national cabinet on Friday.”
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[Photo: Minister for Home Affairs Clair O’Neil.]