ACS Week in Review: 28 September 2012

ACS in the news

• Samsung appoints former successful soldier Andre Obradovic, The Australian
• Prepare for the 2014 ICT skills shortage, Voice and Data

ICT in the Media

Digital Economy – Brumby tips ASX listing for Huawei

Patents & Copyright – Piracy on Android: It’s still a huge problem, but we can solve it together

Security – Foreign cyber crime sparks internet security warning

ICT jobs market and skills: Demand for intranet skills spike

Digital Economy

• HUAWEI director John Brumby, the former Victorian premier, has flagged the Chinese telecommunications giant that was barred from tendering for NBN work could list in Australia within the next decade.
• Prime Minister Julia Gillard will host a national forum on the digital economy in Sydney next month.
• Court dismisses ACCC applications The Federal Court has dismissed an application from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for declarations that EDirect Pty Ltd engaged in systemic and specific unconscionable conduct, and misleading and deceptive conduct in its telemarketing of mobile phone services. EDirect went into liquidation after the ACCC commenced this litigation. 
• Future Workplace Formula = 1 person x 6 devices @ two-thirds of a desk By 2020 organisations are set to reduce office space by almost a fifth (15 per cent, global 16 per cent) according to a new study by Citrix, a leader in mobile and cloud technology.  

Skills and Training

• Robert Half Technology associate director Jonathan Chapman said there was a significant spike in demand for intranet skills such as Microsoft SharePoint. 
• AMES Nash State High School principal Darrin Edwards will soon become an Honorary Senior Fellow of the University of the Sunshine Coast. The program, run at James Nash High School's ICT Hub, enables high-achieving students in Years 6-9 from across the region to participate in extra learning activities in creative writing, mathematics and science. 

Cyber Security

• Stay safe when banking on the go with your mobile and tablet Banks and police have produced some handy information to help people safely bank and transact with their smartphones and tablets. 
• Australian businesses and Defence organisations are seeing an increase in online spying and sabotage, prompting warnings about internet security. 
• Australian intelligence authorities are reporting a major increase in cyber-espionage attacks from abroad and fear the consequences could be devastating. 

Telecommunications

• Five ways to avoid bill shock and data overuse from new 4G phones Users of new 4G/LTE (Long Term Evolution) networks, including the new iPhone 5, should be aware of data overuse and bill shock. The ACMA is releasing quick tips on how to avoid overuse and bill shock when using a 4G/LTE network that delivers quicker internet access and download speeds.
• Networking vendor giant Cisco has announced that it will supply routers and firewalls to NBN Co in a deal worth up to AU$38 million. 
• Optus can level the 4G playing field
• Leighton Holdings is looking to sell its phone and internet infrastructure assets. 

Government announcements

• NBN kicking goals in South Morang
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, together with the Member for Scullin, Harry Jenkins, today kicked off National Broadband Network (NBN) fibre services in South Morang, Victoria, with a virtual online AFL training session for local Auskick kids.
• Coalition launches survey, public wants policy Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today today announced that if the Coalition were serious about providing fast broadband to all Australians, they would release a policy, not survey.
• Final call for Supporting Women Scholarships (QLD) Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek has issued a final call for women to apply for study scholarships in male-dominated industries.
• Gordon TAFE students and staff speak out about savage TAFE cuts Students and staff at Gordon TAFE have today spoken out about the impact of the Baillieu Government's severe cuts to the Victorian training system.
• Geelong’s high tech fibre research centre on track A new $100 million Australian fibres research centre currently under construction at Deakin University will transform Australia's manufacturing and fibre related industries and the economy of the Geelong region.
• Victorian women to bear brunt of Baillieu’s TAFE budget cuts Women across Victoria will bear the brunt of Liberal Premier Ted Baillieu's $300 million TAFE cuts, Minister for Skills Senator Chris Evans said today.

Opposition announcements

• Launch of the Coalition nationwide broadband survey Today the Coalition has launched a nationwide broadband survey which allows every Australian to see for themselves the speed of their existing fixed line and mobile broadband services.
• Combet’s scramble to cover up on car industry Industry Minister Greg Combet must come clean on the Australian car industry’s funding and chances of survival following the accidental release by the Industry Department of ‘explosive’ documents to the Australian Financial Review.
• What is ‘Sergeant Schultz’ Combet hiding? Shadow Industry Minister Sophie Mirabella has today called on Industry Minister Greg Combet to explain what he is hiding from the Australian people about taxpayer funded car industry subsidies. 
• Combet’s re-election slush fund The suppression of departmental documents on the future of the car industry is leaving a bad taste in the mouth of Australian taxpayers as questions are raised regarding the political motivations behind the payment of millions of dollars to the car industry.