ACS Week in Review: 22 February 2013
ACS in the news
Topics in the news
- Digital Economy: Google to open retail outlet, SMEs miss out on government work
- Skills & Jobs: CIOs business future leaders, NSW RMS to appoint new CIO
- Cyber Security: Shanghai source for US cyber attacks revealed
- Telecommunications: Skills shortages affect NBN roll-out
News for ACS newsfeed
Digital Economy
- Apple’s retail stores could face competition from another Silicon Valley giant. According to a report by blog 9to5Google, the search company is planning to open retail stores to support the launch of Google glass.
- Minimum threshold for SME participation for government contracts over $20 million are not being met, according to a 2009 report sought by iTnews under freedom of information. The report reveals that SMEs received just $58 million of work when they should have been eligible for up to $247 million.
Skills and Jobs
- The upheaval to business models caused by digital disruption means CIOs have increasing power within the C-suite. According to US-based Robert Executive Search partner Paul Rush it is likely that this will mean the pool of future CEO’s will come from CIO and technology leaders.
- NSW Roads and Maritimes Services has announced that it is looking for a new CIO to integrate ICT services following its creation in a merger between the Roads and Traffic Authority and NSW Maritime. It is not clear if acting CIO Sandra Coleman or an external candidate will be appointed.
Cyber Security
- The source of a huge number of cyber attacks against US has been traced to a People’s Liberation Army compound in Shanghai. Targets have included critical infrastructure such as oil and gas pipelines, as well as other industrial, corporate and government agencies.
- Australia’s first Cyber Crime and Security Survey, commission by CERT Australia, has found that only 8% of reported cyber crimes resulted in charges being brought. 44% of organisations surveyed who had experienced a security breach opted not to report it to the authorities.
Telecommunications
- Skill deficiencies and labour shortages are delaying the construction of the national broadband network (NBN), according to union officials. NBN co chief executive Mike Quigley has blamed contractor Syntheo for delays, Syntheo is responsible for approximately 17% of rollout targets.
- iiNet shares rose to above $5 following its half year results announcement. Australia’s third largest telco reported a record profit of $31.9 mil for the six months to December 2012, an increase of 122% compared to the same period last year.
Government Announcements
- The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, together with Julie Collins, the Member for Franklin, and Senator Catryna Bilyk, Senator for Tasmania, today launched twenty new NBN services across Tasmania that will help the state take full advantage of the National Broadband Network.
- Geelong’s economic future has been given a significant boost with the opening of the Australian Future Fibres Research and Innovation Centre’s (AFFRIC) first operational building in Waurn Ponds.
- Australia’s small businesses will be more internet-savvy thanks to a new Google training program launched today by the Minister for Small Business, Chris Bowen MP.
- Adelaide will be home to a key manufacturing precinct, as part of the Gillard Government's $1 billion jobs plan. The Adelaide Defence Precinct will service the state's strong defence industry.
Opposition Announcements