Here are a few I have come across the last week or so. Note: Each link is followed by a title and a few paragraphs. For the full article click on the link above title of the article. Note also that full access to some links may require site registration or subscription payment.
General Comment
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At the top of the agenda has to be the RACGP exam debacle that has obviously resulted in much anxiety and suffering from all the candidates. What happened was clearly inexcusable. Clearly the CEO needs to resign.
Elsewhere we have NSW eHealth wanting a unified state wide system and all sorts of interesting commercial activity!
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http://medicalrepublic.com.au/racgp-exam-cancelled-after-system-outage/35504
9 October 2020
RACGP exam cancelled after system outage
A number of GP trainees who tried to attempt their Key Feature Problem exam today were met with a technical failure, causing delays and uncertainty as to when, or even whether, the test would resume.
The RACGP has now confirmed today’s KFP exam has been cancelled, after they were unable to resolve the system outage with their external provider.
“We have been working with our provider to urgently restore services, but in fairness to all candidates we have decided to postpone the exam,” the RACGP said in a letter on its website.
“Cancellation was the last resort and was not a decision taken lightly.
“We know that candidates are stressed, fatigued, and may have other responsibilities preventing them from sitting a significantly delayed exam. There is therefore no alternative.”
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https://www.racgp.org.au/kfp-and-akt-exam-day-information
RACGP – Important Bulletin
We regret to confirm that we have had to postpone both the
Key Feature Problem exam and Applied Knowledge Test exams due to a major outage
experienced by our external exam provider. We have been working with our
provider to urgently restore services, but in fairness to all candidates we
have decided to postpone both exams. We do not yet know the new dates for the
KFP and AKT, but will share an update with you next week.
Cancellation of the exams is a last resort and was not a decision taken
lightly. We know that you probably feel stressed, angry, fatigued and
disappointed, and we deeply regret the impact of this, particularly after a
COVID-enforced delay to sit these exams. We accept there is probably very
little we can say at this point to make you feel better.
The decision to cancel the AKT exam as well is to make absolutely certain the
outage affecting our external exam provider will be resolved. Despite working
with this provider for close to a decade, we weren’t confident the technical
issues would be fully resolved by the time the first candidates were expected
to commence the AKT at 10am AEDT on Saturday.
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https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/breaking-racgps-athome-fellowship-exam-derailed-tech-failure
Breaking: RACGP's at-home fellowship exam derailed by tech failure
The KFP exam is being delayed because registrars have been unable to log on
9th October 2020
By Paul Smith
Update 3.15pm: The RACGP says it has cancelled today's KFP exam due to a "major technical outage" at its external exam provider.
"Cancellation was the last resort and was not a decision taken lightly," it said.
"We know that candidates are stressed, fatigued, and may have other responsibilities preventing them from sitting a significantly delayed exam [today]. There is therefore no alternative."
It said candidates struggling emotionally can access the GP Support program or The Black Dog Institute's Essential Network for Health Professionals.
However, it said the AKT would proceed tomorrow as planned.
The RACGP’s experiment with at-home fellowship exams is in jeopardy after the KFP exam was disrupted this morning because of a technical outage.
NSW Health goes to market for statewide single digital health record
By Justin Hendry on Oct 9, 2020 12:35PM
Cloud-based system to replace fragmented clinical IT environment.
NSW Health has approached the market for a single digital patient record (SDPR) to replace the state’s fragmented lineup of core clinical and laboratory information management systems.
More than a year after revealing plans for the future electronic medical record, the department’s digital arm, eHealth NSW, on Thursday opened bids for the planned state-wide system.
The SDPR is slated to replace the state’s existing electronic medical record (EMR), patient administration system (PAS) and laboratory information systems (LIMS) with a modular cloud-based solution by the end of 2026.
There are currently nine different core EMR instances provided by Cerner and Orion Health and multiple PAS instances provided by Cerner and DXC across the state’s local health districts, which has led to fragmentation and high support costs.
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/file-format-fail-behind-englands-covid-case-underreporting-554318
File format fail behind England's COVID case underreporting
By Juha Saarinen on Oct 6, 2020 11:16AM
Health agency developers used old Excel .XLS files.
Developers picking a more than 30-year-old file format to store COVID test result data was behind the underreporting of almost 16,000 cases in England, it has emerged.
The missed cases were not discovered until Friday last week.
Public Health England (PHE) collected data from commercial firms that analysed the swab results to see who tested positive or not, and receved the information in files with the values separated by commas.
Using comma separated values (CSV) in files is common practice for handling data.
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Be aware of scammers impersonating the Australian Digital Health Agency
What’s happened?
We have received reports of fraudulent telephone calls from an individual or organisation claiming to be a representative of the Australian Digital Health Agency.
It has been reported that the caller says they are calling from the “digital health agency” to enrol people to get a “health record”.
What do I need to do?
If you receive a call from someone offering to enrol you for a “health record”, do not provide any personal information, hang up the call and report it to scamwatch.gov.au.
The Australian Digital Health Agency will not telephone you with an offer to enrol you for a My Health Record. For more information on how to register for a My Health Record, visit myhealthrecord.gov.au.
If you have shared your Medicare number with an unknown caller, report this to Services Australia who will place your details on a watch list to monitor for any compromise or misuse of your Medicare record. Email protectyouridentity@servicesaustralia.gov.au or phone 1800 941 126.
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http://medicalrepublic.com.au/tech-is-what-separates-thriving-practices-from-those-that-fail/35165
6 October 2020
Tech is what separates thriving practices from those that fail
An exodus of office workers from Australia’s cities fiscally crippled centrally located practices, but accountants who manage healthcare finances say business is booming in suburban waiting rooms.
Coronavirus restrictions and a rapid telehealth rollout sent a wave of uncertainty through the healthcare sector earlier this year, with providers unsure of the impact it would have on their bottom line.
Across the country, accountants are seeing practices bounce back and some are stronger than ever.
Medfin Finance, a National Australia Bank subsidiary providing financial services to 14,000 health professionals across Australia, took 6500 enquiries for loan deferrals in just ten days when lockdowns were announced in early April.
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Garvan Institute launches mobile app for coronavirus genetic analysis
By Matt Johnston on Oct 7, 2020 9:33AM
A team led by researchers at Sydney’s Garvan Institute of Medical Research have developed an app that can analyse the coronavirus genome using Android phones.
The ‘Genopo’ app combines a number of available bioinformatics tools in a single application that was “miniaturised” to work with the processing power of consumer-grade mobile devices, rather than the high-end computers or cloud infrastructure typically used in genetic analysis.
In a study published in the journal Communications Biology, the researchers outlined how they were able to run the app on seven different Android-based phones, ranging from a Huawei AMN LX2 with 2GB RAM through to a Samsung A70 with 8GB RAM.
The app analysed data sourced from portable genetic sequencers such as the Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION, which have been used for Ebola surveillance in West Africa and to genetically profile microbial communities in the Arctic.
-----\https://www.miragenews.com/new-centre-monitors-medicine-use-and-safety/
October 8, 2020 2:34 pm AEDT
New centre monitors medicine use and safety
UNSW Sydney has received a $2.5 million NHMRC grant to create a Centre of Research Excellence in Medicines Intelligence.
UNSW Medicine has received a $2.5 million five-year grant from the National Health and Medical Research Centre (NHMRC) to establish a new centre to deliver evidence on the use and outcomes of medicines in Australia.
The Centre of Research Excellence in Medicines Intelligence will be led by Professor Sallie Pearson from UNSW Medicine’s Centre for Big Data Research in Health.
“Medicine overuse and misuse are global problems, resulting in health issues for individuals and populations, and a waste of scarce health resources,” Prof. Pearson said.
“We have brought together scientists, clinicians, regulators and payers to tackle this problem by generating high quality evidence that will lead to improvements in the quality use of medicines and reductions in medicine-related harm.”
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'Reply all': DFAT exposes Australian's personal details in email stuff up
By Anthony Galloway
October 10, 2020 — 11.30pm
Australia's Foreign Affairs Department inadvertently leaked intimate details about an Australian citizen's family member to hundreds of people stranded overseas, in another privacy breach caused by hitting the wrong email button.
The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age can reveal last month's privacy breach involving more than 2700 Australians stranded overseas was not the first time the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has mistakenly disclosed the personal details of its citizens during the coronavirus.
While last month's mishap was caused by putting recipients' email addresses in the "Cc" section, instead of "Bcc", this mistake is believed to have involved clicking "reply all", instead of just "reply".
On July 29, Australia's Bogota embassy in Colombia forwarded a sensitive and private email from a concerned citizen to more than 300 Australians stuck in South America.
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https://itwire.com/people-moves/pks-appoints-tim-kelsey-as-new-ceo.html
Tuesday, 06 October 2020 12:49
PKS appoints Tim Kelsey as new CEO
Australian-listed healthcare data services provider PKS has appointed former Digital Health Agency chief Tim Kelsey as its new CEO as it embarks on its next phase of growth.
Kelsey, described by PKS (ASX: PKS) as a pioneer of advanced data services in healthcare, replaces current managing director Ron van der Pluijm, who will support Kelsey through the transition and continue in his role as non-executive director.
As well as his former role at Australia’s Digital Health Agency, Kelsey was also National Director for Patients and Information at the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) and former chair of the Global Digital Health.
Kelsey most recently served as Senior Vice President of HIMSS Analytics International (Healthcare Information Management Systems Society), an organisation which measures impacts of digital health programs to improve clinical, social and economic outcomes in more than 50 countries.
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https://www.medianet.com.au/releases/192407/
06 Oct 2020 9:59 AM AEST
PKS appoints internationally regarded digital health expert, Tim Kelsey as new CEO
The Board of PKS Holdings Limited (ASX: PKS) (“PKS” or the “Company”), an Australian pioneer of advanced data services in healthcare, is pleased to announce the appointment of data analytics and digital transformation expert, Tim Kelsey as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the next phase of growth. The Company’s current Managing Director, Ron van der Pluijm will support Tim throughout the transition and continue in his role as non-executive Director.
· Internationally regarded leader in digital health strategies and former CEO of Australian Digital Health Agency, NHS National Director for Patients and Information;
· A clear global understanding of healthcare analytics (former Chair of the Global Digital Health Partnership involving 30 governments and the World Health Organisation);
· Entrepreneurial experience in building analysis and publication of patient outcomes for Dr Foster in the UK, named UK’s top 10 fastest growing companies in 2006; and
· Most recently serving as Senior Vice President of HIMSS Analytics International (Healthcare Information Management Systems Society), an organisation which measures impacts of digital health programs to improve clinical, social and economic outcomes in more than 50 countries.
PKS Chair, Mr Mike Hill said: ‘We are delighted to appoint Tim as chief executive – he has a proven track record for growth and delivery as a private sector entrepreneur and a public service leader. He is a highly regarded expert in data analytics and broader digital health services both in Australia and internationally. Tim’s appointment was the culmination of an extensive CEO succession planning process. The Board is deeply appreciative of the outstanding leadership Ron has provided PKS as it has become a growing public company with a solid foundation for significant growth. Tim has an outstanding network of high profile global healthcare decision makers in both the private and public sectors. He will be a highly capable successor as we continue to accelerate our strategy, expand the business internationally, scale up the sales and marketing functions and continue to develop globally leading products.”
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Health tech firm raises $25m pre-IPO funds for finger-prick tests
Yolanda Redrup Reporter
Oct 6, 2020 – 12.01am
Rapid diagnostics healthcare technology company Lumos Diagnostics has banked $25 million in a pre-IPO funding round, ahead of a likely float on the ASX in 2021.
The business, which was founded in 2015, is a spin-off of healthcare investment and commercialisation business Planet Innovation. It has created a world-first finger prick blood test called FebriDx, which can indicate if a person has a bacterial or viral infection within 10 minutes.
As well as the FebriDx test, the company has also created a COVID-19 serology test to detect antibodies in patients suspected of having contracted the virus in the past.
Both tests already have regulatory approval in Europe, while FebriDx is also approved by the relevant authorities in Australia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Singapore and Malaysia.
Lumos' latest funding round was led by a mix of institutional investors, including Perennial Value Management and Ellerston Capital, with participation from high net worth investors. The company was advised by Blackpeak Capital, who worked with joint lead manager Canaccord Genuity.
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https://www.healthcareit.com.au/article/painchek-partners-rhrf-ecu-improve-pain-management
PainChek partners with RHRF & ECU to improve pain management
Dean Koh | 07 Oct 2020
PainChek, developer of the world’s first smartphone-based pain assessment and monitoring application, is partnering with Ramsay Hospital Research Foundation (Ramsay) and Edith Cowan University (ECU) for a research project in Australia that will investigate ways of minimizing or stopping the progression of frailty in hospital patients.
Evidence to support the association between pain and frailty continues to grow. Pain prevalence increases with increased age, so too does frailty. As persistent pain can lead to functional disability, depression, and social isolation, it has been hypothesized that the burden of pain leaves older adults less capable to compensate, which increases the likelihood of frailty.
Led by Dr Rosemary Saunders from the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Edith Cowan University, a consortium 12 researchers from five Australian universities, is investigating different ways of minimizing or stopping the progression of frailty in hospital patients, through volunteer support interventions and optimal pain management facilitated by better pain assessment through the use of the PainChek device.
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https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/clinic-sues-its-former-doctor-accessing-patient-records
Clinic sues its former doctor for accessing patient records
The case now before the Supreme Court of Victoria raises the question of who owns patient records
7th October 2020
A clinic part-owned by Tristar baron Dr Khaled El-Sheikh has taken one of its former doctors to court for accessing records and allegedly cold-calling its patients to promote his new practice.
Dr Nima Rudd left Australian Cardiology Services in the Victorian town of Mildura and set up his own clinic last month.
But he continued logging in to his old clinic’s practice management system, known as Health Track, which had patient files and a calendar of upcoming patient appointments.
Lawyers for Australian Cardiology Services claim Dr Rudd copied information before contacting up to 40 patients to tell them he had moved “away from Tristar”.
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October 9th, 2020 10:30AM AEST
Webstercare recognised as top 10 most innovative company in Australia 2020
Today, Webstercare was honoured to be recognised as one of Australia and New Zealand’s Most Innovative Companies. The prestigious annual list, published by The Australian Financial Review and Boss Magazine, is based on a rigorous assessment process managed by Australia’s leading innovation consultancy, Inventium, in conjunction with a panel of industry expert judges.
Webstercare was honoured to rank #4 on the healthcare list, for the second year in a row, from over 600 nominated organisations across Australia and New Zealand. The assessment measures a top innovation implemented in the past two years. Specifically, the judges look at how valuable the problem is that the innovation is solving, the quality and uniqueness of the solution, and the level of impact that the innovation has had. Inventium also assesses internal elements such as innovation culture, strategy, resources and process, which demonstrate a sustainable and repeatable approach to innovation.
Webstercare was thrilled to be recognised for their role in the launch of the Pharmacist Shared Medicines List, a new clinical document within My Health Record to reduce medication-related problems in Australia, and specifically those experienced by Australia’s older population.
Working with the Australian Digital Health Agency for two years planning and developing the protocols and security requirements for the software, Webstercare became the first to use the PSML in December 2019.
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https://epiminder.com/epiminder-raises-18m-to-develop-its-breakthrough-epilepsy-monitoring-device
Australian medical device innovator Epi-Minder raises $18m to develop its breakthrough epilepsy monitoring device
· The Series A fund raising was strongly supported by private investors, as well as existing shareholders including medical device leader Cochlear
· The company is developing Minder™, a cloud-based, around-the-clock monitor that will enhance the standard of care for epilepsy sufferers.
· The funds will be used to support a pivotal clinical trial, ahead of US and EU applications for marketing approval.
· The board has appointed a new chief executive to lead the company through this crucial development phase.
5 October 2020, Melbourne, Australia: Private medical device innovator Epi-Minder Pty Ltd has hit two crucial milestones in its quest to commercialise its lead product Minder™, which aims to revolutionise the lives of millions of people suffering from epilepsy and seizures.
The company has successfully completed an oversubscribed Series A funding round, raising $AU18 million. The raising, the company's first significant venture capital funding round, was supported by private investors as well as the current shareholders: Cochlear, the Bionics Institute, Melbourne's St Vincent's Hospital and the University of Melbourne.
Epi-Minder has also appointed Dr Rohan Hoare -- a world leader in developing and commercializing novel devices -- as its new chief executive officer.
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Healthtech Doctor Care Anywhere seeks $75m IPO at 8.7x revenue
Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald and Tim Boyd
Oct 8, 2020 – 2.59pm
Telehealth business Doctor Care Anywhere (DCA) has put a $75 million initial public offering to Australian and offshore fund managers, and is expected to seek cornerstone bids in coming weeks.
It is understood DCA's brokers Bell Potter and boutique Aurenda Partners sent terms to potential early backers on Thursday, ahead of the official roadshow due to launch next week.
DCA was seeking to raise $75 million at 8.7-times forecast 2020 calendar year revenue, according to the pathfinder document, for a $250 million-odd market capitalisation.
Potential investors were told the group's consultations - and revenue - was on a tear, with consults up 385 per cent in September compared to the same time last year and 292 per cent on a year to date basis.
DCA is based in the UK and is seeking a listing on the ASX boards before the end of this year.
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/wa-health-looks-for-cio-to-continue-it-reform-agenda-554250
WA Health looks for CIO to continue IT reform agenda
By Justin Hendry on Oct 8, 2020 5:55AM
After former tech chief resigned in June.
Western Australia’s health department has begun searching for a new chief information officer following the departure of its tech chief earlier this year.
Former CIO Holger Kaufmann resigned from the department’s shared services arm, the Health Support Service (HSS), in June after just over two years in the top job.
He joined from the then Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (now the Office of Digital Government) in May 2018, becoming WA Heath's first permanent CIO in eight years.
Kaufmann has spent the past two years kicking off the modernisation of WA’s health system, including an upgrade of key clinical and corporate systems and infrastructure.
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Tuesday, 06 October 2020 21:28
AIIA welcomes 'billions' in new digital funding in Budget as Govt backs Aust Digital Economy
Australia’s peak industry representative body for innovation technology, the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), has welcomed the Federal Government’s Budget as an important milestone to "achieve a globally competitive and leading digital economy".
The AIIA has responded to the Australian Federal Government's 2020-21 Budget, delayed by five months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and which has switched on hundreds of billions of dollars in government support and spending.
In a statement released on Budget night, the AIIA noted: "In an historic development, the Federal Budget will deliver major billion dollar investments in creating digital capability across the economy including the SME sector; from 5G and broadband infrastructure, government digitisation projects, to investments in digital skills, apprenticeships and cyber uplift capability.
"The decision by the Government to reverse the proposed R&D cuts is also welcomed especially for small claimants of the incentive, with less than $20 million annual turnover, and simplifying the intensity tests from three tiers to two will benefit from an increase in the refundable R&D tax offset rate and there will be no $4 million cap on annual cash refunds. The AIIA has long advocating for their continued targeted assistance for start-ups and the innovation tech sector".
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Tuesday, 06 October 2020 23:03
AIIA, Pure Storage, Digital Realty and Lighting Council all welcome Fed Govt 2020-21 Budget
The commentary from various elements of the tech industry on Budget night has been positive, which is great news for the digital economy, digital funding, reversing planned R&D changes, 5G and more.
The AIIA has come out to welcome billions in new digital funding in the Budget as The Australian Federal Government is backing The Australian Digital Economy.
Then the Lightning Council Australia, an organisation we didn't even know existed, but is the peak body for the lightning industry in Australia, has also come out to welcome the announcement to "reverse plans to cut an estimated $1.8 billion from the Research and Development Tax Incentive Program".
We have also heard from two other companies - Pure Storage and Digital Realty.
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/centrelink-it-overhaul-scores-540m-for-final-tranche-554355
Centrelink IT overhaul scores $540m for final tranche
By Justin Hendry on Oct 6, 2020 9:50PM
Budget 2020: WPIT allocation surpasses $1.1bn.
Services Australia has scored in excess of half a billion dollars in the federal budget to progress the final stage of its massive Centrelink payments system overhaul.
Budget papers reveal $539.6 million over four years, including $166.9 million in capital, for tranche four of the welfare payment infrastructure transformation (WPIT) program.
It is the largest chunk of funding to be handed to Services Australia for the seven-year project since it began in 2015, and brings the total funding allocation to more than $1.1 billion.
Tranche four, which has been combined with tranche five, will see Services Australia bring improvements from earlier tranches to disability, carers and families payments as well as the age pension by July 2022.
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ATO wants to verify citizens are alive and physically present for myGovID registrations
The agency has gone to market seeking to introduce a 'liveness' solution to the digital identity app.
By Aimee Chanthadavong | September 28, 2020 -- 01:51 GMT (11:51 AEST) | Topic: Security
The agency, which handles myGovID, has gone to market seeking a supplier to deliver a software solution that will allow people who are registering to prove they are a live person and physically present, as well as allow them to take a selfie to verify their identity against a stored identity document, such as their passport or driver's licence.
The ATO quietly released the app last year to enable citizens to have their identity verified once so they could access government services online using their verified identity, rather than having to continually be verified by each Commonwealth entity.
The ATO emphasised that the successful contractor would need to adhere to strict security guidelines. These include delivering a security management and governance functionality in accordance with the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) Information Security Manual and Essential Eight mandatory requirements, provide an authenticated log-on for individual ATO users, and configure its IT systems and environments to effectively respond to the latest threats.
Additionally, the ATO said the supplier must utilise securely configured cryptographic data transmission protocols and algorithms to transfer information across untrusted networks, and be able to control the connection of peripheral devices to IT systems that store, process, or transfer ATO information.
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https://www.hinz.org.nz/news/528892/Telehealth-national-standards-in-pipeline.htm
Telehealth national standards in pipeline
Monday, 5 October 2020
eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth
The NZ Telehealth
Leadership Group’s data working group is developing national data standards for
telehealth.
The group’s chief information officer representative, Richard Li of Bay of
Plenty DHB, says the significant growth in the use of telehealth by DHBs means
there is a need for national standards for telehealth implementation.
Li, who chairs the working group, says data collection around telehealth has
developed organically until now as it was being done at reasonably low levels
nationwide.
Since the arrival of Covid-19 and the need for national lockdowns, DHBs and
other health providers have scaled up their telehealth use and are putting more
process around it.
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App Review: Mentemia - mental health with former All Black Sir John Kirwan
It has been updated with coronavirus-specific resources
9th October 2020
The New Zealand app Mentemia is another COVID-19 mental health app, similar to COVID Coach, which we covered recently.
A lot of mental health apps are appearing now — understandably, given the circumstances — and it’s worth explaining the differences.
Mentemia was launched in 2019, but it’s been drastically updated with coronavirus-specific resources.
It offers a variety of wellness tools, like breathing exercises, a mood diary and prompts for daily acts of kindness.
The range of tools isn’t as wide as COVID Coach, but Mentemia has the advantage of featuring former All Black Sir John Kirwan, who co-designed it and introduces the tools in 30-60 second videos.
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/all-the-tech-in-the-2020-federal-budget-554358
All the tech in the 2020 federal budget
By Justin Hendry on Oct 7, 2020 12:45AM
Hundreds of millions of dollars flows to IT.
Government agencies have scored funding for a range of projects in this year’s pandemic-dominated federal budget, with significant money flowing to all the usual suspects.
The centrepiece is a half a billion dollar investment for Services Australia to complete its massive Centrelink IT overhaul, which began more than five years ago.
The funding brings the project’s budget to more than $1.1 billion over nine years.
Services Australia also received $116.3 million for the second phase of its Medicare payments system modernisation, as well as funding to sustain and rebuild myGov.
Just under $97 million will be spent on the government’s once-in-a-generation overhaul of the Australian Electoral Commission’s 30-year-old election IT systems
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/home-affairs-gets-cash-to-secure-govt-data-554357
Home Affairs gets cash to secure govt data
By Justin Hendry on Oct 7, 2020 12:28AM
Budget 2020: As GovERP moves forward.
The Department of Home Affairs will receive an undisclosed wad of cash from the government to secure immigration, health and other government data.
Budget papers reveal a program of work over at least the next four years to provide secure “data storage” to a range of government agencies.
While details are scarce, the agencies include the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA).
The government has kept the exact amount of funding provided in the 2020 budget confidential, citing “commercial-in-confidence sensitivities”.
Elsewhere in the Home Affairs portfolio, the budget provides $104.9 million for the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) to strengthen its capacity to combat financial crime.
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850 NBN staff paid more than $200,000 amid government pay crackdown
By Jennifer Duke and Rob Harris
October 8, 2020 — 10.30pm
More than 850 employees at the national broadband network are paid above $200,000 a year with more than three-quarters of its workforce earning six-figure salaries, new data has revealed, amid growing scrutiny from the federal government on public sector wages.
The $51 billion taxpayer-funded organisation, under fire for paying bonuses to its executive team during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, has confirmed 110 of its workers are paid between $300,000 and $400,000 and 34 received base salaries above $400,000 before bonuses.
It can also be revealed NBN Co spent $265,000 on entertainment and function expenses between February and June at the height of the coronavirus pandemic this year when millions of Australians were unable to travel, socialise in groups or go to restaurants and cafes.
The NBN Co was given an extra $4.5 billion in the federal budget on Tuesday for an upgrade by 2023 to improve the speeds available. Another $29.2 million was provided to accelerate the rollout of ultra-fast 5G mobile networks.
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NBN Co to deploy more fixed wireless cells to improve uplink speeds
By Ry Crozier on Oct 8, 2020 12:38PM
Pushes some users above 10Mbps for the first time in a while.
NBN Co is set to deploy more fixed wireless cells in areas of high demand to resolve problems with slow uplink speeds on the network.
The company confirmed that a two-phase program of work is underway, with the first phase using carrier aggregation, which combines frequency bands to boost bandwidth, set to conclude at the end of this month.
A second phase is then set to kick off, with NBN Co switching on more cells in areas where slow uplink speeds have been reported.
A Whirlpool post from late last month said that the new cells would be “dedicated to uploads only”, though iTnews understands it could also bring some improvement in downlink speeds as well.
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Having a tough time contacting your internet provider? You are not alone
By Joel Gibson
October 7, 2020 — 10.00pm
Why is it that of all your household utility providers, the hardest to get through to on the phone is often your telco? It is an irony never more stark than this year.
I have been a fan of the much-maligned National Broadband Network since the pandemic struck. The often-described ugly duckling of Australian infrastructure projects could have fallen in a heap at the first sign of a big surge in internet traffic but, for the most part, it has held up well under the strain of millions of people working and schooling from home.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says average download speeds have hardly changed. That is largely because operator NBN Co. has given an extra 40 per cent of bandwidth to telco retailers. The deal is due to end on November 30.
However, when internet connections do go bad, they go very bad. About 10 per cent of all internet connections "underperform", according to the ACCC.
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/tpg-calls-for-nbn-protectionism-to-end-554297
TPG calls for NBN protectionism to end
By Ry Crozier on Oct 6, 2020 12:33PM
Asks for competitive constraints to be lifted.
TPG Telecom wants to see the era of NBN protectionism end, allowing it - and others - to provide a greater degree of infrastructure-based competition in NBN fixed-line areas once more.
The company started deploying a fibre-to-the-basement (FTTB) network in 2013 using an exemption to anti cherry-picking rules that were brought in to protect NBN Co's business model.
Anti cherry-picking rules were designed to stop carriers other than NBN Co rolling out 'superfast' networks in high-income, low-cost and high-density areas - and then undercutting NBN Co's prices.
The exemption allowed superfast networks built before January 2011 to build extensions of less than a kilometre.
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Enjoy!
David.
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