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Mipcom Buzz Titles: Global Market Offers Eveything From ‘Baywatch’ to ‘Murder’ to ‘Cupertino’ to a New Angle on Princess Di and More

Mipcom Buzz Titles: Global Market Offers Eveything From ‘Baywatch’ to ‘Murder’ to ‘Cupertino’ to a New Angle on Princess Di and More

While the movers and shakers of global television, streaming and all manner of digital platforms descend on the Croisette, Variety looks at 21 projects that could go viral with buyers. BaywatchShowrunner: Matt Nix; International distributor: Fremantle Set for a January debut on Fox and the U.K.’s Sky, a 12-episode reboot of the iconic international blockbuster […]
ReutersReuters
AI boom to fuel Australia inflation despite higher rates, ex-RBA official says

AI boom to fuel Australia inflation despite higher rates, ex-RBA official says

By Ankika Biswas Oct 8 (Reuters) - Australia's AI investment boom is likely to boost inflation in the near term as productivity benefits take longer to emerge, leaving the central bank with limited scope to overlook price pressures, Jonathan Kearns, a former Reserve Bank of Australia official, said
ReutersReuters
Nvidia-backed Firmus scraps $5 billion Australia IPO amid growing AI scrutiny

Nvidia-backed Firmus scraps $5 billion Australia IPO amid growing AI scrutiny

By Scott Murdoch and Christine Chen SYDNEY, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Australia's Firmus, a data centre operator backed by Nvidia, shelved its $5 billion IPO on Friday, adding to growing investor scrutiny of the AI sector's valuations and sustainability of massive investments to build infrastructure.
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AUKUS Security Pact Expands Beyond Submarines, Fostering Innovation in Advanced Technologies

AUKUS Security Pact Expands Beyond Submarines, Fostering Innovation in Advanced Technologies

AUKUS, the trilateral security pact established on September 15, 2021, between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, is evolving beyond its initial focus on nuclear-powered submarines. The pact is now recognized as a significant driver for innovation and technology opportunities across various advanced domains. These areas of cooperation include quantum technologies, advanced cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence and autonomy, hypersonic and counter-hypersonic capabilities, undersea capabilities, electronic warfare, and enhanced information sharing. This expanded scope aims to support the growth of businesses, both large and small, and foster collaboration among industry, academia, researchers, government, and defense sectors across the three member nations.
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Australian Government's Robodebt Scheme Highlights Risks of Automated Data Use in Tax Systems

Australian Government's Robodebt Scheme Highlights Risks of Automated Data Use in Tax Systems

Between 2016 and 2019, the Australian government implemented the 'Robodebt' scheme, which utilized averaged annual income data from the tax office to calculate welfare overpayments. This method assumed a consistent fortnightly income for all individuals, leading to the generation of erroneous debts for many people engaged in irregular work. The government later acknowledged that approximately 470,000 debts were wrongly raised. The core issue was not the sharing of tax data itself, but rather the crude matching process, the placement of the burden of proof on individuals, and the absence of human oversight before debt collection efforts commenced. This scheme serves as a cautionary example of the potential pitfalls when rules for data use are unclear and automated decisions lack proper human review and safeguards.
ReutersReuters
Nvidia-backed Firmus scraps $5 billion Australian IPO as investors step up AI scrutiny

Nvidia-backed Firmus scraps $5 billion Australian IPO as investors step up AI scrutiny

By Scott Murdoch and Christine Chen SYDNEY, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Australia's Firmus, a data centre operator backed by Nvidia, shelved its $5 billion initial public offering on Friday, opting for a private fundraising round ahead of a potential New York share sale.
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A24 Confirms Australian and New Zealand Release for Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's Elizabeth Holmes Documentary

A24 Confirms Australian and New Zealand Release for Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's Elizabeth Holmes Documentary

A24 Confirms Australian and New Zealand Release for Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's Elizabeth Holmes Documentary
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Headspace Australia Enhances Youth Mental Health Programs and Workforce Diversity

Headspace Australia Enhances Youth Mental Health Programs and Workforce Diversity

Headspace, Australia's leading youth mental health organization, is actively expanding and reinforcing its programs aimed at improving the well-being of young people aged 12 to 25. The organization supports youth and their families in navigating challenges related to mental health, work, and study. A key initiative is the 'Be You' program, which assists schools in developing mentally healthy communities. Headspace is also focusing on workforce diversity and inclusion, particularly encouraging applications from individuals with lived experience of diversity, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The organization is recruiting for various roles, such as 'Be You' consultants and senior access clinicians, to ensure young people receive timely and appropriate support for mental health, physical health, and substance-related issues. These roles involve building relationships with school leaders, facilitating learning sessions for educators, and coordinating referrals to appropriate support serv...
VarietyVariety
Fremantle Appoints Sharon Levy as Head of Americas and Australia

Fremantle Appoints Sharon Levy as Head of Americas and Australia

Fremantle, whose shows include the “Got Talent” and “Idols” franchises, has appointed Sharon Levy as CEO of Fremantle Americas and Australia, effective from mid-January, reporting directly to Jennifer Mullen, Fremantle Group CEO. Levy joins Fremantle from Banijay, where she served as CEO of Endemol Shine North America. Based in Fremantle’s Los Angeles offices, Levy will […]
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Australian Department of Health Aged Care Increases Data Modernization Spending to $32.8 Million

Australian Department of Health Aged Care Increases Data Modernization Spending to $32.8 Million

The Australian federal Department of Health & Aged Care has significantly increased its investment in data modernization, with total project spending now reaching $32.8 million. This follows the signing of $13 million in new contracts in recent months. The department initiated this modernization effort in early 2024, aiming to establish a new enterprise data and analytics platform utilizing Google Cloud Platform (GCP) services. Four companies are currently engaged in the delivery and data migration work: Accenture, Deloitte, NTT, and Google. Accenture's contract has grown to $17.1 million, and NTT's to $9.7 million, both due to recent multimillion-dollar amendments. Google's involvement primarily consisted of providing training on the platform in 2024, valued at approximately $150,000, while GCP consumption is managed through NTT. Deloitte's contribution has also increased to $2.6 million.
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Australian Consumer Confidence Plummets Amid Rising Interest Rates and Cost-of-Living Pressures

Australian Consumer Confidence Plummets Amid Rising Interest Rates and Cost-of-Living Pressures

Australian Consumer Confidence Plummets Amid Rising Interest Rates and Cost-of-Living Pressures
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TBH and Adaptus Formalize Alliance to Integrate ESG and Sustainability into Major Project Delivery

TBH and Adaptus Formalize Alliance to Integrate ESG and Sustainability into Major Project Delivery

TBH and Adaptus Formalize Alliance to Integrate ESG and Sustainability into Major Project Delivery