Webinar: Government 3.0 – Smarter Systems, Sharper Minds
Governments are accelerating AI adoption to clear backlogs, digitise services and boost productivity, but speed may undermine decision quality. In a Mandarin Talks webinar titled “Government 3.0 – Smarter systems, sharper minds,” former NSW minister Victor Dominello and ex‑White House AI adviser Carmem Domingues discuss the risks of prioritising speed over judgment. They introduce the “Government 3.0” framework, which emphasizes intelligent, human‑centric AI deployment. The session aims to reshape how public agencies think about technology and accountability.
Navy Doubles Down on Drone Fire
The Royal Australian Navy has formalized its autonomous maritime program by establishing the Maritime Autonomous Systems Unit (MASU) under Project SEA 1200. MASU will transition experimental unmanned vessels, such as Anduril’s Ghost Shark extra‑large autonomous under‑sea vehicle, into operational service. The...
So, Who’s My Boss Now? Victoria’s Ministerial Reset to Drop Today
Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allan will announce a sweeping ministerial reshuffle today, setting the stage for an election‑focused cabinet. The changes follow a leak of resignations and will reassign key portfolios such as finance, health and infrastructure. Deputy Premier Ben Carroll...
Queensland Launches Inquiry Into Federal Environmental Laws
Queensland’s Productivity Commission has launched a formal inquiry into how the 2025 amendments to the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act are affecting the state’s resources sector. The review, commissioned by Treasurer David Janetzki, will assess economic impacts,...
Revolutionising the Australian Health System Through Intelligent Pathways and ‘Whole-of-Life’ Healthiness
Australian consultancy Scyne is championing an "intelligent care pathway" that blends consumer‑grade wearables, generative AI and a national longitudinal health record to shift care from episodic treatment to whole‑of‑life wellness. The firm argues that clinicians need regulated, evidence‑based tools to...
Events Upend Plans as Fuel Crisis Forces Albanese Government Off Script
A sudden fuel shortage in Australia has forced Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government to abandon its pre‑planned budget and policy agenda. The crisis, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions after the United States launched missiles at Iran, has led to emergency measures...
Defence Fires First Home-Built GMLRS as Sovereign Missile Push Gathers Pace
Australia successfully test‑fired its first domestically produced Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles at the Woomera Test Range. The rockets are intended for the newly acquired High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and mark a milestone in the country’s sovereign...
ANAO Gets Its Second Bragg Letter in as Many Months
The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) is reviewing a request from Coalition Senator Andrew Bragg for a detailed audit of recent amendments to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act). Bragg’s letter, dated March 27, urges the auditor‑general...
AASB Wants Public Sector Feedback on Risk-Mitigation Accounting
The Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) has issued an exposure draft proposing a new hedge‑accounting model and is seeking feedback from public‑sector financial officers. The draft aims to let government departments and agencies reflect risk‑mitigation activities more accurately on a...
Factory Fever: Australia’s Bipartisan Turn to Protectionism Comes at a Cost
Australia’s Labor government and the Liberal opposition are jointly embracing protectionist policies to revive domestic manufacturing. The plan includes billions of interest‑free loans for local producers and sizable subsidies for multinationals such as Glencore and Rio Tinto to sustain metal‑refinery...
Mookhey Quietly Orders Stocktake of NSW Council Fuel Supplies
New South Wales Treasurer Daniel Mookhey has initiated a soft audit of diesel fuel reserves held by state councils. The move comes as councils grapple with rising diesel costs and supply uncertainty that threaten essential services such as waste collection....
Minns Broadens Public Transport Concessions Under Fuel Pressure
The New South Wales government announced it will expand concessional fares and daily/weekly fare caps to passengers using everyday tap‑and‑go payment cards, not just the Opal smartcard. The rollout will begin with apprentices and students, who will be the first...
Unsteady as She Goes in DAFF and DCCEEW’s Executive Ranks
The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) have experienced a rapid turnover of senior executives, with a 34% SES churn rate since March 2025. DAFF alone cut...
Monday Briefing: Office of the Special Investigator
The Australian Federal Police, in coordination with the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI), arrested former Australian Defence Force member Ben Roberts‑Smith on April 7 at Sydney Domestic Airport. Roberts‑Smith, 47, faces five counts of war crimes, specifically murder under section 268.70(1)....
TPB Consults on AI Guidance
The Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) has released draft guidance on the use of artificial intelligence by registered tax professionals. The guidance, issued in mid‑April, makes clear that AI engines are not registered agents and must be employed within existing ethical...
