This Seems Like A Sensible And Timely Warning!

This appeared last week.

Email, SMS vaccine scams on the way: cyber experts

Tom Burton Government editor

Feb 16, 2021 – 4.34pm

Cyber experts and authorities are warning of an inundation of vaccine scams, as Australia prepares to distribute COVID-19 vaccines from February 22.

The roll-out of the vaccine in the US and Britain has inspired many vaccine-related scams, with a 300 per cent jump in vaccine-related website domains in the lead-up to the first jabs being distributed.

More than 5000 new domains were registered, according to the CEO of cyber research firm, Security in Depth, Michael Connory.

“We’ve been seeing in the US, but specifically in the UK, the large number – and it’s a huge number – of vaccine-related cyber attacks, primarily through phishing, with individuals and criminal organisations looking at obtaining credentials for individuals,” Mr Connory said.

Cyber criminals have also set up fake British National Health Service websites that send emails asking for confirmation of vaccination appointments as a way of stealing people’s identities, he said.

“So you put in your username, you set up a password, you set up a time and date so to speak. And you need to also communicate or provide some documentation on who you are to be able to streamline the process now.”

“We saw a million of these emails go out in the UK about six weeks ago. It was picked up very quickly as there was over 1000 complaints within a 24 hour period,” he said.

Mr Connory said it was believed the attacks came from Russia using compromised US infrastructure to hide the scams.

He predicted a rise in text message scams, given some internet users were becoming wise to phishing scams.

“In the last 12 months, in regards to phishing, there’s been a significant improvement from that 30 per cent [of people clicking through from emails] down to about 10 to 15 per cent.”

“In the US people were texted asking them to pay $US150 ($190) to jump the queue and get early access to the backside and we believe that that will happen here as well.”

Much more here:

https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/email-sms-vaccine-scams-on-the-way-cyber-experts-20210216-p572us

What to say other than to remind us all just how many ‘bad actors’ there are out there.

We all need to remain alert – as ever – especially as the vaccine rollout has now kicked off!

David.

We Can See From This Just How Little Interest There Is In Accessing The #myHealthrecord Using An App Despite The Hype!

 This popped up a few days ago.

Telstra Health’s HealthNow app allows full access to patients’ My Health Record

19 February 2021

Telstra Health’s HealthNow mobile app provides a secure platform for Australians to access and view their healthcare records where and when they need it, including access to their vaccination status.

The HealthNow app is one of just two apps with full view access rights to a patient’s My Health Record delivered by the Australian Government. The app enables users to find the health information and assistance they require in real time.

As part of the national COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, users that enable access to their My Health Record through the HealthNow app will be able to view all of their previous immunisations that are available from the Australian Immunisations Register (AIR) including their COVID-19 vaccination.

Melanie Gates, General Manager of Virtual Care Solutions at Telstra Health, said, “Our HealthNow app enables people in Australia to take their healthcare into their own hands by providing instant access to their health records where and when they need it.

“The HealthNow app was created by Telstra Health’s unique team who have expertise and experience across all facets of digital health and healthcare. It was developed with security and simplicity at the forefront and enables anyone in Australia to access the healthcare they need at anytime, anywhere.”

Since the mobile app was first developed by Telstra Health in 2016, HealthNow has enabled approximately 8,000 users to access their health records simply and securely from the convenience of their fingertips.

The HealthNow app is also utilised by specific healthcare organisations to connect with their consumers to share outpatient appointment information, and allows consumers to request services from accredited, registered, Australian-based clinicians who are trained in telemedicine and have a minimum of five years' experience. Clinicians that connect with the patient can provide a wide range of treatment options, can administer medical certificates and electronic prescriptions, and can share updates with a user’s usual GP to equip them with their patients’ most up-to-date health records and information.

Here is the link to the release.

https://telstrahealth.com/content/telstrahealth/en/home/media-and-events/Telstra_Healths_HealthNowapp_allows_full_access.html

So over 4 years they have signed up 8,000 people from a population of potentially say 20 Million users.

Talk about the public simply not caring or wanting what the ADHA offers!

I wonder why Telstra bothers?

David.

Commentators and Journalists Weigh In On Digital Health And Related Privacy, Safety, Social Media And Security Matters. Lots Of Interesting Perspectives - February 23, 2021.

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This weekly blog is to explore the news around the larger issues around Digital Health, data security, data privacy, AI / ML. technology, social media and related matters.

I will also try to highlight ADHA Propaganda when I come upon it.

Just so we keep count, the latest Notes from the ADHA Board were dated 6 December, 2018 and we have seen none since! Its pretty sad!

Note: Appearance here is not to suggest I see any credibility or value in what follows. I will leave it to the reader to decide what is worthwhile and what is not! The point is to let people know what is being said / published that I have come upon.

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https://www.zdnet.com/article/twitter-deems-australias-account-takeover-warrant-as-antithetical-to-democratic-law/

Twitter deems Australia's account takeover warrant as antithetical to democratic law

Raises concerns with the new warrant, which would give two of Australia's law enforcement bodies access to data regardless of the location of the server.

By Asha Barbaschow | February 16, 2021 -- 00:18 GMT (11:18 AEDT) | Topic: Security

Twitter has labelled one of the three proposed new computer warrants handing the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) new powers for data access as antithetical to democratic law.

Twitter's remarks were made as part of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) review into the Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Bill 2020, which, if passed, would hand three new warrants for dealing with online crime to the two law enforcement bodies.  

The social media giant focused on the Account Takeover Warrant that would allow the agencies to take control of an account for the purposes of locking a person out of the account.

"As currently written, the Account Takeover Warrant would be divorced from standard due process requirements. It would be antithetical to core legal principles enshrined in democratic law and procedural fairness," it wrote in a submission [PDF] to the PJCIS.

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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/feb/20/australias-first-covid-vaccinations-of-elderly-and-disabled-unlikely-to-be-from-own-gp

Australia's first Covid vaccinations of elderly and disabled unlikely to be from own GP

Phase 1b vaccination with AstraZeneca vaccine will be possible from March but only from ‘a handful’ of GP practices

Francine Crimmins

Sat 20 Feb 2021 06.00 AEDT

Elderly Australians and those with a disability are expected to receive a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine from as early as next month, but it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to get it from their local doctor.

On Thursday Dr Lucas de Toca, acting first assistant secretary to the Covid-19 Primary Care Response at the Department of Health, confirmed that initially only “a handful” of Australian general practices would be able to offer their patients the AstraZeneca vaccine.

“Unfortunately, we cannot go to every GP practice in the country at the same time, it’s just logistically unfeasible, and we don’t have enough doses for it,” he said at a webinar aimed at Australian GPs.

Phase 1b of the national Covid-19 vaccine rollout, to begin next month, will target adults aged 70 years or over, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged over 55 years, healthcare workers and adults with an underlying medical condition, including those with a disability.

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https://medicalrepublic.com.au/healthcares-four-horsemen-and-the-great-digital-bait-and-switch/40621

19 February 2021

Healthcare’s ‘four horsemen’ and the great digital bait and switch

Posted by Jeremy Knibbs

“The world is all the richer for having a devil in it, so long as we keep our foot upon his neck.” – William James

Google said it wouldn’t be evil, and we believed it, for a while. Then, eventually, Google didn’t even believe it, and in 2018 removed the phrasing from its code of conduct.

In the meantime it practised a global data bait and switch on millions of small businesses.

One day it gave a business huge search visibility (and profitability) so it could capture its data and that of its customers, the next it changed its search algorithm, and destroyed those businesses and often many lives with it.

But we all moved on. Digital transformation progress apparently.

Facebook said that it just wanted to connect the world in one big happy community for the

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https://www.racp.edu.au/expressions-of-interest/adha-racp-digital-health-scholarship

Apply for a ADHA/RACP Digital Health Scholarship

Date published: Feb 19, 2021, 09:30 AM ADHA Propaganda

Summary

In partnership with the Australian Digital Health Agency, we're offering 10 x $4000 scholarships to RACP members using My Health Record and electronic prescribing in the healthcare environment.

Description

As a leading professional medical college in Australasia, the RACP provides accredited specialist training to doctors who have completed their medical degree, and assesses overseas trained physicians who wish to practice in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand.

We also play a strong advocate role for healthcare policies and practices that promotes the interests of medical professionals, patients and communities (locally and abroad).

Prize

On offer are 10 x $4000 scholarships for eligible Fellows and trainees who are familiar with or practicing the use of My Health Record and electronic prescribing in the healthcare environment.

Successful applicants will be asked to document up to 3 case studies or workflow and integration examples in the use of My Health Record and/or electronic prescribing from their own perspective. A reporting template to aid examples will be provided and should not exceed 500 words in length.

Scholarship applications will be evaluated and award by the ADHA and RACP selection panel.

These scholarships aim to represent a variety of clinical disciplines across metropolitan, regional and rural Australia.

Successful applicants will be notified Friday 26 March 2021.

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https://www.smh.com.au/national/it-s-time-to-unfriend-facebook-when-it-resorts-to-starving-us-of-news-20210218-p573lt.html

It’s time to unfriend Facebook when it resorts to starving us of news

Former journalist, public campaigner and director of the Centre for Responsible Technology.

February 18, 2021 — 11.07am

For the 30 per cent of Australians who rely on Facebook as their primary source of news, they will have to find it elsewhere or live a fact-free life following the Big Tech behemoth’s decision on Thursday to purge journalism from its site.

Overnight, Facebook has removed access to its users from any site that smells like news: not only local major mastheads such as The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, but also specialist sites like The Conversation and global leaders such as The New York Times.

It also seems Fire and Rescue NSW, the Bureau of Meteorology, MS Research Australia, Doctors without Borders and state health departments are among many placed on the blacklist, showing the scope of the Mark Zuckerberg edict from Silicon Valley.

This is an arrogant and reckless move that will be dangerous for all Australians who are relying on an evidence-based response to a global pandemic, but also self-destructive to Facebook. While Facebook argues it does not make much money from news in its network, it is wilfully turning a blind eye to its value. News provides the facts and evidence to anchor what it claims is a ubiquitous digital experience.

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https://www.afr.com/companies/media-and-marketing/why-google-is-finally-striking-meaningful-australian-news-deals-20210217-p57396

Why Google is finally striking meaningful Australian news deals

Max Mason Senior reporter

Feb 17, 2021 – 11.53am

Australia may end up being Google’s most expensive per-capita market, with north of $100 million per year being paid to local media businesses when all its news deals are done.

But Google’s rush and apparent success in closing the deals to pay for news content is a win for the search giant. Seven and now Nine, the country’s largest Australian-owned media company and publisher of The Australian Financial Review, have both signed letters of intent for commercial deals with Google.

This is because it is striking those deals outside of the upcoming code of conduct legislation, which has an element of unpredictability in how much Google would be forced to pay Australian news media due to the inclusion of the value of journalism to their core search product.

Private commercial deals, struck behind closed doors, attributing payments to different areas, with non-disclosure agreements tying up any sharing of the details mean Google can, for at least partly, stop the uniformity of deals that would have been forced under arbitration spreading to much larger markets such as the US and in Europe.

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https://www.afr.com/companies/media-and-marketing/facebook-to-restrict-news-viewing-sharing-in-australia-20210218-p573jg

Facebook restricts news viewing, sharing in Australia

Timothy Moore, John Kehoe, Max Mason and Miranda Ward

Updated Feb 18, 2021 – 6.19am, first published at 6.16am

Facebook has restricted publishers and people in Australia from sharing or viewing Australian and international news content, in a move that will send shockwaves through the local media industry.

Facebook’s Australian boss William Easton said Australia’s proposed new media bargaining code, which may become law as soon as next week, “fundamentally misunderstands the relationship between our platform and publishers who use it to share news content.

“It has left us facing a stark choice: attempt to comply with a law that ignores the realities of this relationship, or stop allowing news content on our services in Australia. With a heavy heart, we are choosing the latter.”

Responding to the decision this morning, Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said Facebook’s move removed “authoritative” news sources from its platform at a time when the credibility of information on its platform was being questioned.

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https://www.afr.com/technology/facebook-sacrifices-australian-truth-for-global-dollars-20210218-p573js

Facebook sacrifices Australian truth for global dollars

The price of avoiding setting an expensive global precedent is Facebook leaving its Australian users impotent in the face of dangerous fake news.

Paul SmithTechnology editor

Feb 18, 2021 – 9.46am

After years of pretending to recognise the importance of news and its role in the facilitation of community debates and events, Facebook has pulled the pin in Australia with the message that its bottom line is much more important.

The price of avoiding setting an expensive global precedent by paying fair value for the news shared on its platform, is Facebook leaving its Australian users impotent in the face of dangerous fake news.

As Australia prepares to launch the most important vaccination program of our life times, the anti-vaxxers that we’ve all seen peddling misinformation on Facebook will now go unchallenged by any news articles featuring authoritative local voices.

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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/defence-considers-ethical-checklist-for-ai-561176

Defence considers ethical checklist for AI

By Justin Hendry on Feb 18, 2021 6:50AM

To de-risk projects.

Artificial intelligence projects at the Department of Defence could soon be subject to a checklist of ethical considerations to de-risk systems and keep machine-based decisions accountable.

The checklist, which is currently under internal review by Defence, is one of three tools aimed at ethically de-risking projects to emerge from a workshop on the ethics of AI for defence.

Other tools include an ethical AI risk matrix to describe risks and proposed treatments, as well as a legal, ethical and assurance program plan for contractors to complete when involved in projects.

In a report [pdf] released this week, the workshop said Defence’s development of AI systems going forward would be best supported by “an effective and practical methodology”.

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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-17/covid-vaccine-when-and-to-whom-will-we-need-to-prove-had-it/13164334

The COVID vaccine is here. Who will be able to see if you've had it?

The Conversation

By Rick Sarre and Sarah Moulds

17 February, 2021

Australia's long-awaited COVID vaccine rollout is scheduled to begin on Monday.

New laws have just been passed mandating the recording of COVID-19 vaccine information on the Australian Immunisation Register. The changes to the Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015 will mean vaccination providers, such as GP clinics, will need to report to the Government who was given the COVID-19 vaccine, both within and outside of Australia.

The act introduces penalties for providers who don't comply with requests for information. Before these changes were made, the Australian Immunisation Register, which records inoculations (such as for seasonal influenza) under school-based programs and those given privately, was maintained on a voluntary basis.

Now vaccine providers will have no choice but to add personal information to the register about people's vaccination status. This information can be accessed by authorised government officials for health and other purposes.

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https://www.hospitalhealth.com.au/content/nursing/article/angela-ryan-advocating-the-nursing-voice-1426502721

Angela Ryan: advocating the nursing voice

By Jane Allman
Wednesday, 17 February, 2021

Nurses are celebrated across the world — revered and credited for their dedication, stamina, resilience and compassion towards all who come into their care. Yet, historically, nurses have not had a place at the decision-making table when it comes to health policies and planning.

The Australian Digital Health Agency’s (ADHA) Chief Clinical Information Officer, Angela Ryan, is passionate about the leadership capabilities of women in health care. She wants to see nurses at the centre of the decision-making table, informing policies and making important decisions.

With more than 30 years’ experience in hospitals and public sector organisations, including more than 14 years’ experience as a registered nurse, Angela is a founding Fellow and Vice Chair of the recently established Australasian Institute of Digital Health, and President of the (former) Australasian College of Health Informatics (ACHI). In 2020, Angela presided over the merger of the ACHI and the Health Informatics Society of Australia into the Australasian Institute of Digital Health.

“It’s been a bit of a journey to position nurses front and centre at the decision-making table,” Angela said.

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https://www.itwire.com/security/data-breaches-lead-to-loss-of-trust-%E2%80%93-and-business.html

Wednesday, 17 February 2021 04:01

Data breaches lead to loss of trust – and business

By Stephen Withers

Identity provider Okta's research shows a data breach could dislodge nearly half of a company's customer base.

Okta's latest Digital Trust Index reports that 49% of Australian respondents say they would permanently stop using a company's services following a data breach.

And 14% say they don't trust any digital channel to safely handle their data.

COVID-19 seems to have had an impact on people's opinions and behaviour, as 57% of Australian respondents 57% say they are more cautious about sharing personal information online now than they were before the pandemic.

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https://www.itwire.com/technology-regulation/govt-offers-more-sweeteners-to-google,-facebook-over-media-code.html

Wednesday, 17 February 2021 06:58

Govt offers more sweeteners to Google, Facebook over media code

By Sam Varghese

More Australian media deals with Google's News Showcase appear to be in the offing, aided by some government sweeteners, with a number of news publishers reported to be in discussions with the online advertising giant set to finalise agreements before the Australian Parliament passes the news media code into law.

The Australian claims its owner, News Corporation Australia, Nine Entertainment, the ABC, SBS and Guardian Australia are all in talks with Google, with the latter saying it was in talks with "publishers large and small".

The Federal Government has been backing these deals, and offered Google and Facebook inducements in the form of so-called "technical amendments" in the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code that it claims "will enhance the way it operates and strengthen its ability to foster more sustainable public interest journalism in Australia".

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg — credited with having played a central role in the deal Google cut with free-to-air TV operator Seven News Media on Monday — and Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said news of the deals was encouraging.

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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/twitter-worried-by-secret-account-takeover-data-access-powers-561127

Twitter worried by 'secret' account takeover, data access powers

By Justin Hendry on Feb 16, 2021 3:11PM

Urges govt to amend proposed laws.

Twitter has criticised laws that would give federal authorities the power to take control of a person's online accounts in secret, accusing the government of failing to properly consider the obligations of service providers.

The social media giant made the remarks in its submission to the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security review of the Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identity and Disrupt) Bill.

If passed, the bill would allow the Australian Federal Police to take control of a person’s online account to gather evidence about serious offences, as well as to add, copy, delete or alter material.

The submission [pdf], published on Tuesday, calls on the government to “amend the bill to reflect practices that are consistent with established norms of privacy, free expression and [the] rule of law”.

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https://www.ddwmphn.com.au/upcoming-events/understanding-compliance-requirements-for-accessing-my-health-record-practical-tips-for-practice-managers

Understanding compliance requirements for accessing My Health Record – practical tips for Practice Managers

ADHA Propaganda

These one-hour sessions will equip Practice Managers and administrative staff with a sound knowledge of how to implement and maintain policies and procedures to govern access to the My Health Record within their organisation.

These demonstrations will be run multiple times each week and at varying times throughout the day.

Upon completion participants will be able to:

o Understand the legislative framework for accessing My Health Record

o Create and maintain security and access policies for My Health Record

o Manage My Health Record user accounts and training registers

o Understand the importance of Health Identifiers and correct system configuration

o Designate roles and responsibilities for practice staff engaging with My Health Record

o Understand when and how to access information contained within a consumer’s My Health Record

This education is CPD accredited by AAPM.

Thu 18 Feb

When
12:00pm - 1:00pm,
Thursday 18th February 2021

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https://www.pharmacytimes.com.au/this-pathological-life-data-myhealthrecord-data-deep-dive/

This Pathological Life – Data MyHealthRecord | Data Deep Dive

By Pharmacy Times ADHA Propaganda

February 16, 2021

Health records are arguably the single most important and personal collection of data anyone can have. With records containing doctor visits, consultation notes, pathology results, radiology reports, medications, allergies, etc., it is hard to overstate its significance.

In fact, these records can save lives.

The Australian Government has implemented an opt-out arrangement for MyHealthRecord and as such, there has been a rise in the number of records available. However, this venture has not been without its stumbles, detractors, and challenges.

We discuss medical records with Dr Chris Moy, who has been a national leader in developing and promoting My Health Record, the electronic ‘filing system’ of Australians’ individual health histories. 

Available via OMNY Studio on iTunes, Spotify and Google Podcasts with Podcast Host Steve Davis and our Dr Travis Brown Resident General Pathologist. This Pathological Life is produced by Clinpath Pathology in South Australia.

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https://www.itwire.com/security/dta-s-digital-id-program-needs-to-be-redone-from-scratch-researchers.html

Tuesday, 16 February 2021 12:14

DTA's digital ID program needs to be redone from scratch: researchers

By Sam Varghese

The Digital Transformation Agency's digital ID program has been described as insecure and unfit for purpose by security researchers who last year found vulnerabilities in the government's COVIDSafe app.

Dr Vanessa Teague of Thinking Cybersecurity and independent researcher Ben Frengley said in a submission to the DTA that neither the trusted digital identity framework's high-level design, nor its implementation by the ATO (myGovID) met their intended security goals.

"The myGovID system is subject to an easily-implemented code proxying attack, which allows a malicious website to proxy a person's myGovID login and re-use their authentication to log in to the victim's account on any website of their choice," they wrote.

"Although detectable by extremely diligent users, the attack is likely to go unnoticed by most victims."

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https://www.murrayphn.org.au/new-digital-health-specialist-toolkit/

Digital Health Specialist Toolkit

ADHA Propaganda 

A new resource is now available to assist private specialist practices to better understand and adopt digital health technologies which may support improved decision making and continuity of care.

The Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency) has co-developed the Digital Health Specialist Toolkit with input and testing from specialists and practice staff, and in support of the Digital Health Specialist Toolkit Steering Group with members representing a number of peak organisations.

The toolkit contains interviews, guides, learning modules, demonstrations videos and much more.

CPD-accredited eLearning modules provide an introduction and overview of digital health technologies, electronic prescribing, My Health Record and telehealth, including applications, proven benefits and ethical considerations.

Once you’ve used the resources, and to support continuous improvement, the Agency would appreciate you clicking on the ‘Provide feedback’ button located within the toolkit.

Have questions? Contact the Australian Digital Health Agency at digitalhealth.gov.au/contact-us

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https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=231e25f1-46fb-411c-89a4-fec092cf4bca

Regulatory changes for software based medical devices

Minter Ellison

Sonja Read and Helaena Short

Australia February 11 2021

Regulatory changes for software based medical devices will commence on 25 February 2021. With telehealth technologies, wearable devices and various health and wellbeing apps thriving, software developers and technology device manufacturers should be asking the question: is my product a medical device?

Software now plays a crucial role in most industries and sectors across the developed world. Digital platforms are critical to the performance, productivity and reach of most businesses. The healthcare industry is no exception. Software is changing how clinicians practice medicine, how individuals manage their own health, and how patients interact with their healthcare providers.

Regulatory changes targeted at software based medical devices, including software which can be classified as a medical device in its own right ('SaMD'), will take effect on 25 February 2021. The regulatory changes follow an extensive consultation and revision process, which was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This article provides a brief summary of what you need to know about the incoming changes:

1. What is software as a medical device?
2. Why are regulatory changes being made?
3. What are the changes and which software is affected?
4. How long do you have to comply?

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https://apo.org.au/node/310908

Factsheet: who is sending and sharing potentially harmful digital communications?

8 Feb 2021

Neil Melhuish, Edgar Pacheco

Publisher Netsafe

Resources Factsheet: who is sending and sharing potentially harmful digital communications?     891.17 KB

Description

This factsheet presents findings from a quantitative study looking at adults’ experiences of sending and sharing potentially harmful digital communications in New Zealand.

Typically research into harmful digital communications focuses on the experiences of those on the receiving end – the victims. However, to better address the distress and harm caused, information is needed about the people sending and sharing potentially harmful messages and posts. In this study, adult New Zealanders were asked whether they had sent potentially harmful digital communications in the previous year and if so, how often they had done this, who they were sent to, the channel(s) they used, and the reason for doing this.

Key findings:

1. Around 1 in 10 adult New Zealanders had sent or shared at least one potentially harmful digital communication in the previous 12 months.
2. It was most common for people to say offensive things about someone, but they also engaged in a range of behaviours such as sharing someone’s intimate images without their permission or encouraging other people to send hurtful messages to someone.
3. Over a quarter of senders said they did this for a joke, while around 1 in 10 wanted to influence someone’s behaviour or thoughts, scare or embarrass them, and 1 in 20 were motivated by reasons such as revenge, money and sexual pleasure.
4. Nearly half of the people sent these communications were family or friends, while about 1 in 10 people were strangers.
5. Around 8 in 10 of people sending potentially harmful digital communications had also received them. In contrast, only 1 in 4 of receivers said they also sent such material to others.

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https://www.itwire.com/technology-regulation/news-media-code-govt-may-yield-to-wishes-of-google,-facebook.html

Monday, 15 February 2021 07:24

News media code: Govt may yield to wishes of Google, Facebook

By Sam Varghese

The Federal Government is likely to give Google and Facebook a major concession before it puts its news media code legislation up for a vote, with a clause that says the two companies do not have to cut deals with publishers under the law if they can convince them to sign up to their news products.

The Nine Entertainment newspapers reported on Monday that the government was looking at making this concession, with the outcome being that the two services that were to be designated for inclusion by name — Google Search and Facebook NewsFeed — would not be specified in the law.

The law, in its current form, does not include Instagram and YouTube. The Nine report said Seven News, one of the three commercial free-to-air TV channels in Australia, was expected to announced a deal with Google soon.

Google launched something called News Showcase in October, and introduced it in Australia on 5 February, a day after Prime Minister Scott Morrison had a video chat with Alphabet and Google chief Sundar Pichai.

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https://www.itwire.com/security/is-privacy-dead.html

Is privacy dead?

By David Heath

Here's what the IT industry executives had to say.

Resuming our 'controversial question' series, we invited a large number of suppliers (both in Australia and in other parts of the world) to consider this statement: "Privacy is dead. Long live privacy."

Graham Sowden, Managing Director APAC, Okta opens the batting, noting that "The statement posed really captures current attitudes towards privacy in the digital age. On the one hand, many of us have accepted that participating in the online world requires some sacrifice of our privacy. On the other hand, we are also increasingly aware of the extent of that sacrifice, becoming uncomfortable with it, and pushing back."

Never one for understatement, Daniel Harding, Director - Australia Operations, MaxContact exclaims, "Privacy is a topic that has never been as hot as it is now."

Guillaume Noé, Regional Security Lead at Avanade Australia also assists to set the scene. "Privacy is relative. Most people would fit on a spectrum ranging from digital exhibitionists, such as social media influencers, to hard-core privacy conscious or off-grid citizens. Regardless of where we sit on the spectrum, we all have a right to privacy including online.

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https://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/programs-grants/digital-literacy/digital-health-literacy-program

Digital health literacy program

Empower your community to manage their own digital health future.

About the program

Recognising the unique role of public libraries as providers of information to communities, families and individuals, the Australian Digital Health Agency, through Australian Library and Information Association, has provided funding to State Library of Queensland to deliver digital health literacy training for public library staff and local community health organisations and groups, that will provide information and resources to support a stronger emphasis on digital health literacy in their local public library service..

The Digital Health Literacy – Empowering your community to manage their own health future one-day training program includes information that will enable library staff to support and guide library members and the wider community on how they can navigate and understand the Federal Government digital health initiatives, such as My Health Record.

Online Digital Health Literacy training program

The Digital Health Literacy training program is now available online. Details can be found on the Training Calendar.

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Comments more than welcome!

David.

 

Weekly Australian Health IT Links – 22 February, 2021.

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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Has been quite a busy week with the ADHA really keen to sell access to the myHR by SA Health Hospital Staff as a wonderful step forward. Not sure the docs themselves will be convinced!

Otherwise lots of commercial stuff happening – and Mars has a new rover!

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https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/newsroom/media-releases/recent-media-releases/hospital-staff-can-make-more-informed-decisions-as-sa-electronic-medical-records-system-linked-to-my-health-record

Hospital staff can make more informed decisions as SA electronic medical records system linked to My Health Record

·         17 Feb 2021 7:06 am AEST

Australian Digital Health Agency

Senior Intensive Care Specialist at Flinders Medical Centre and Chief Medical Information Officer for Digital Health SA Dr Santosh Verghese said the inclusion of My Health Record in South Australia’s electronic medical record system will improve clinical interactions with patients and ensure care is based on their medical history and directives.

“In an ICU setting the arrival of patients is unpredictable and time critical when dealing with trauma,” he said.

“In this situation, access to the patient’s medical records and encounter history ensures the ICU clinicians can make informed decisions when the traditional health care networks and family networks are inaccessible.”

This development follows the announcement by Australian Digital Health Agency CEO Amanda Cattermole that work is complete on an integrated Sunrise electronic medical record (EMR) My Health Record (MHR) viewer in South Australia.

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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/sa-health-links-sunrise-ehealth-record-to-my-health-record-561159

SA Health links Sunrise ehealth record to My Health Record

By Justin Hendry on Feb 17, 2021 10:59AM

Integration gives clinicians direct access to medical history.

SA Health has linked its Allscripts Sunrise electronic medical record (EMR) and patient administration system (PAS) to the country’s My Health Record, allowing clinicians to upload information directly to the platform.

The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) announced the completion of the integration on Wednesday, which it said was made possible by a new My Health Record ‘viewer’ within Sunrise EMR.

The viewer – or tab – creates a single view of a patient’s interactions across the health care system, both within SA and interstate, providing shared health summaries from GPs, pathology and imaging reports and prescription information.

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https://www.govtechreview.com.au/content/gov-digital/news/sa-electronic-medical-records-linked-to-my-health-record-1059448918

SA electronic medical records linked to My Health Record

Friday, 19 February, 2021

The inclusion of My Health Record in South Australia’s electronic medical record system will improve clinical interactions with patients and ensure that care is based on medical history and directives, according to Dr Santosh Verghese, Chief Medical Information Officer for Digital Health SA.

Dr Verghese said that in an ICU setting, the arrival of patients is unpredictable and can be time critical when dealing with trauma. In this situation, access to the patient’s medical records and encounter history would enable ICU clinicians to make informed decisions when the traditional healthcare networks and family networks are inaccessible.

This development follows an announcement that work is complete on an integrated Sunrise electronic medical record (EMR) My Health Record (MHR) viewer in South Australia. Australian Digital Health Agency CEO Amanda Cattermole said this will enable SA Health clinicians to view and contribute to the My Health Record through their clinical workflows.

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https://medicalrepublic.com.au/what-booking-engines-have-planned-for-the-vaccine-drive-cont/40339

15 February 2021

What booking engines have planned for the vaccine drive (cont.)

Clinical COVID-19 General Practice Vaccination

Posted by Holly Payne

General practices aren’t the only ones gearing up for phase 1b of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout – booking engines are also implementing changes to help GPs stay on top of their workload.

As reported by TMR last week, booking engine HotDoc will be rolling out a range of additional functionalities – such as eligibility screening – to ensure the vaccine rollout goes smoothly.

Since that time, HealthEngine, Jayex (formerly Appointuit) and MyHealth1st have all released details around what they will be adding as the immunisation process begins.

MyHealth1st’s service is run via VaccineConnect, a platform specifically launched by MyHealth1st’s parent company for the COVID vaccine rollout.

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https://medicalrepublic.com.au/clinical-trials-waste-billions-ai-could-be-the-fix/40519

17 February 2021

Clinical trials waste billions – AI could be the fix

Clinical Technology

Posted by Manuela Callari

Clinical trials remain the only way to ensure the safety and efficacy of medical interventions.

Yet many medical interventions fail to get approval from the regulatory authority.

An analysis of clinical trial data from January 2000 to April 2019 estimated that only around 12% of drug-development trials were completed and resulted in a medical intervention being approved.

Although this trend is changing, the percentage of interventions that navigate all three stages of clinical testing and receive approval remains around 30%.

“There are many different ways that a clinical trial can go wrong,” said Professor Wray Buntine, a data scientist at Monash University in Melbourne.

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https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/trust-a-website-on-ivf-its-conceivable/news-story/04e6399e666c73f1655f9770e0daa1b4

Trust a website on IVF? It’s conceivable

Imogen Reid

·         8:04PM February 15, 2021

Growing calls for transparency around the costly and confusing IVF process have been answered with the launch of a government-funded website that allows would-be parents to compare fertility clinic success rates.

For the first time, couples will have the chance to predict their chance of having a baby by entering their age and medical details into the YourIVFSuccess website.

“It allows people to access information based on real-world statistical information collected from patients who have undergone IVF treatment,” Health Minister Greg Hunt said.

The website provides impartial information from accredited fertility clinics to help the one in six couples who face difficulty conceiving.

The site was developed by the National Perinatal Epidemiology Statistics Unit at the University of NSW.

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https://www.afr.com/technology/rmit-shuts-down-systems-after-malware-hit-20210219-p5745f

RMIT shuts down systems after malware hit

Max Mason Senior reporter

Feb 19, 2021 – 5.58pm

Melbourne’s RMIT University has shut down its IT systems to nullify what is believed to be a so-called phishing attack, where a staff member has been tricked into or accidently clicked on a malicious link in an email.

Late on Friday RMIT began alerting other universities across Australia, which began warning staff they might be targeted and not to open or respond to suspicious emails.

RMIT took the step of shutting down its systems and cancelling all classes, in person and online.

“RMIT’s IT Services team is working to resolve some issues that have impacted access to some of the university’s supported applications and systems,” it said in a statement.

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https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/drones-be-trialled-remote-nt-communities

Drones to be trialled in remote NT communities

They will deliver medical supplies and collect pathology samples, the territory's health department says

16th February 2021

By Siobhan Calafiore

Drones are to be trialled in the Northern Territory, delivering medical supplies and collecting pathology samples from remote communities that can be cut off in the wet season.

The NT Health Department says it is looking at using the technology to service 80 remote healthcare clinics in areas that can be hard to reach or inaccessible during bad weather, such as the towns Maningrida and Gunbalanya in West Arnhem Land. 

It has partnered with Charles Darwin University and transport research centre iMove Australia to deliver the $1.4 million three-year trial. 

While details are still being worked out, the drones, which can cost up to $500,000 each, are likely to carry loads of up to 25kg and travel as far as 250km.

NT Minister for Health Natasha Fyles said it was the “next step in medicine”.

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https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/law-firm-x-ray-provider-hit-by-cyber-attacks-20210217-p573bm

Law firm, x-ray provider hit by cyber attacks

Ronald Mizen Reporter

Feb 18, 2021 – 9.36am

Global law firm Jones Day has become the second major legal outfit to fall victim to a high-profile cyber attack which last year compromised Accellion, a secure file sharing service trusted with sensitive information.

PRP Diagnostic Imaging, a provider of radiology and nuclear medicines with 25 clinics across New South Wales, also confirmed its systems had been hit by hackers, including some holding patient records.

Global law firm Jones Day and PRP Diagnostic Imaging have both faced cyber threats in recent weeks. 

The hack on PRP preceded a warning from the Australian Cyber Security Centre that COVID-19 had fundamentally changed the threat landscape for the healthcare sector, and providers needed to lift their game.

Launching a discussion paper in Parliament, Labor’s cyber security spokesman Tim Watts said hackers were becoming an intolerable cost burden on the economy and a national ransomware strategy was needed.

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https://telstrahealth.com/content/telstrahealth/en/home/media-and-events/Telstra_Healths_HealthNowapp_allows_full_access.html

Telstra Health’s HealthNow app allows full access to patients’ My Health Record

19 February 2021

Telstra Health’s HealthNow mobile app provides a secure platform for Australians to access and view their healthcare records where and when they need it, including access to their vaccination status.

The HealthNow app is one of just two apps with full view access rights to a patient’s My Health Record delivered by the Australian Government. The app enables users to find the health information and assistance they require in real time.

As part of the national COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, users that enable access to their My Health Record through the HealthNow app will be able to view all of their previous immunisations that are available from the Australian Immunisations Register (AIR) including their COVID-19 vaccination.
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https://www.afr.com/street-talk/healthtech-pks-readies-raising-taps-pac-partners-20210218-p573kz

Healthtech PKS readies raising; taps PAC Partners

Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald and Tim Boyd

Feb 19, 2021 – 8.37am

ASX-listed healthcare company PKS Holdings is expected to unveil a capital raising in conjunction with its half-year results on Friday.

Street Talk understands the company will seek up to $10 million in fresh equity to finance research and development and sales and marketing activities.

New shares in the placement will be offered to funds at 35¢ each, which represented a 5.4 per cent discount to PKS’ last close and a 7.6per cent discount to its 30-day VWAP.

The company’s biggest institutional shareholder – Sydney-based growth fund manager Bombora – is expected to tip about $2 million into the placement to increase its stake in the business.

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InterSystems Launches Automated Appointment Booking Solution for COVID Vaccinations

InterSystems COVID vaccination booking system saves providers time and resources while increasing accessibility and engagement for patients

SYDNEY, Australia and ETON, United Kingdom, February 18, 2021 – InterSystems today announced that users of its InterSystems TrakCare® unified healthcare information system now have access to an appointment booking system to schedule COVID vaccinations that has already saved one regional health board more than 500 hours of call centre time over 16 days when booking NHS staff vaccination appointments.

Created in response to the overwhelming demand for vaccinations, the solution automates the booking of appointments and is designed with choice, flexibility and security in mind. It offers significant savings to health services avoiding the need to manually book every appointment. The system can also be configured easily to track and schedule other appointments.

NHS Lothian registered 7,055 members of staff and booked vaccination appointments for 6,100 of those through this system in just 16 days. The process saved more than 500 hours of call centre time, avoided lengthy telephone queues and as a result has reduced delays in deploying vaccinations. 

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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/media-code-gets-senate-committee-go-ahead-561007

Media code gets senate committee go-ahead

By Justin Hendry on Feb 12, 2021 4:26PM

Despite Google, Facebook opposition.

Australia’s proposed media bargaining code has inched closer after the senate committee examining the landmark bill recommended that it pass through federal parliament.

Handing down its report on Friday, the committee recommended the Treasury Laws Amendment (News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code) Bill pass without any major changes.

The code would force Google and Facebook to negotiate payments with news organisations, with a binding “final offer” arbitration process to be used if not agreement can be reached.

“Despite the concerns raised by various submitters and witnesses, the committee is confident that the bill will deliver on its intended outcomes,” the committeee said [pdf].

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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/google-facebook-win-media-code-concessions-over-algorithmic-changes-561132

Google, Facebook win media code concessions over algorithmic changes

By Justin Hendry on Feb 16, 2021 4:50PM

To make code "more workable".

The federal government is poised to water down the requirement that digital platforms give media companies 14 days’ notice of major algorithm changes under its proposed media code.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on Tuesday said the government would introduce “technical amendments” to the Treasury Laws Amendment (News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code) Bill later this week to make it more “workable”.

The landmark code – which is likely to be legislated before the end of next week – is scheduled for debated in parliament on Wednesday after clearing the senate economics legislation committee.

It would force digital platforms Google and Facebook to negotiate payments with news organisations, with a binding “final offer” arbitration process used if no agreement can be reached.

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https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/google-nine-agree-commercial-terms-for-news-content-20210217-p5736c.html

Google, Nine agree commercial terms for news content

By Zoe Samios

February 17, 2021 — 8.46am

Google has agreed to pay Nine Entertainment Co more than $30 million in cash annually for the use of its news content, in a major breakthrough for the search giant and media company ahead of the introduction of new bargaining laws.

Industry sources familiar with the talks, who spoke anonymously because of non-disclosure agreements, said Nine had signed a letter of intent with Google overnight for a deal worth more than $30 million in cash annually for five years. A final commercial agreement could be struck in the next fortnight and is expected to be larger than the deal Kerry Stokes’ Seven West Media struck with Google earlier this week.

Nine is the owner of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/facebook-pulls-news-content-for-australia-561183

Facebook pulls news content for Australia

By Juha Saarinen on Feb 18, 2021 6:47AM

Will restrict sharing and viewing of Aussie and international news.

Facebook will stop Australian users and organisations from sharing and viewing local and international news in response to the government's proposed media bargaining code.

Both Google and Facebook have threatened to partly withdraw service offerings in Australia if the government forces them to pay news publishers.

Facebook managing director for Australia and New Zealand, Will Easton, said in a blog post that the proposed legislation penalises the social network for content it did not take or ask for, instead of encouraging innovation between digital platforms and news organisations.

"The proposed law fundamentally misunderstands the relationship between our platform and publishers who use it to share news content," Easton wrote.

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https://www.itwire.com/technology-regulation/news-corporation-cuts-global-three-year-deal-with-google.html

Thursday, 18 February 2021 06:49

News Corporation cuts global three-year deal with Google

By Sam Varghese

Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has struck a global three-year deal with Google in return for what the publisher has described as "significant payments".

The announcement, on Wednesday US time, was made by the publisher's New York head office and includes the development of a subscription platform, the sharing of ad revenue through Google's ad technology services and "the cultivation of audio journalism and meaningful investments in innovative video journalism by YouTube".

The agreement covers The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, MarketWatch and the New York Post in the US; The Times, The Sunday Times and The Sun in the UK; and The Australian, news.com.au, Sky News, The Daily Telegraph, the Herald Sun, The Courier Mail, and The Adelaide Advertiser in Australia.

It comes a day after Nine Entertainment announced a deal with Google which is said to be worth in excess of $30 million. This leaves only the ABC, SBS and Guardian Australia among the better-known media organs in Australia which are yet to announce deals with the online advertising behemoth. Seven News Media signed up on Monday.

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https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/facebook-ban-on-australian-news-sweeps-up-emergency-sites-government-services/news-story/7afb050025da71ef61a13a2740d05d3f

Facebook ban on Australian news sweeps up emergency sites, government services

Joseph Lam

Richard Ferguson

·         February 18, 2021

Facebook is moving to remove restrictions on a range of pages after health services, fire services, political figures, and charities were caught up in its sweeping ban on Australian news content.

The Bureau of Meteorology, the Australian Capital Territory and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA also fell victim to the ban on Thursday morning.

WA Liberal leader Zak Kirkup and Victorian Labor are among the political figures and institutions that have also had their social media posts wiped.

NSW Fire and Rescue has been caught in the crossfire of a Facebook decision to take down news content from its platform in response to the media bargaining code being pushed through parliament by the Morrison government.

SA Health and NSW Fire and Rescue are among those who have approached the social media giant to have their pages reinstated.

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https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/realthing-brings-ai-to-its-realsam-phones-for-the-blind/news-story/fda23c3b9bb8fe86dcfa90f87595853a

RealThing brings AI to its RealSAM phones for the blind

Chris Griffith

·         9:04PM February 17, 2021

Melbourne start-up RealThing achieved international success with its modified smartphones that read news from a hundred sources to blind and partially sighted people.

Now it is deploying artificial intelligence to add a range of new features. CEO Nick Howden told The Australian that the start-up. which also employs former military and aerospace staff on its AI effort, had recently received a $1 million grant from The Australian Government. RealThing, now RealThing Ai has written contracts with organisations helping the visually impaired in the UK and US.

The company began developing its technology about eight years ago. The Australian reported on the very early trials that took place in 2014.

After initial testing in Australia, several thousand RealSAM handsets were rolled out in the UK from 2017 through the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

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https://www.smh.com.au/technology/covid-vaccinations-in-victoria-to-be-tracked-by-new-tech-platform-20210215-p572lq.html

COVID vaccinations in Victoria to be tracked by new tech platform

By Cara Waters

February 17, 2021 — 7.30pm

Victoria’s coronavirus vaccination program will be tracked by the state government using a new technology solution.

The Victorian government has signed a deal with Microsoft, for an undisclosed amount, to provide a management platform to co-ordinate the logistics and scheduled delivery of the vaccines at clinics. According to Microsoft, the Vaccination Registration and Administration Solution (VRAS) program would also be used to support healthcare workers.

The vaccines, set to be rolled out from Monday, will be available at nine health centres with an initial focus on high-risk, priority people.

Government agencies, both state and federal, have had a patchy track record in using technology solutions to manage the pandemic. Victoria’s contract tracing efforts ran into trouble at the height of the pandemic last year, hamstrung by the lack of a cohesive technology platform. Meanwhile, the usefulness of the federal government’s COVIDSafe app has also come under fire.

However, Microsoft Australia managing director Steven Worrall was confident the tech giant’s platform should “optimise citizen experience” across the entire registration, vaccination and follow-up process.

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https://bpsoftware.net/my-health-record-vip-net/

My Health Record in Bp VIP.net – A Preview of Upcoming Enhancements

February 17, 2021 by Louis Valenti

Our newest exciting release for Bp VIP.net – Topaz – is nearly ready to be released. It is currently undergoing a stringent beta testing process to ensure the new My Health Record enhancements are functioning correctly.

My Health Record in Bp VIP.net has been available for a number of years, however new functionality will make it easier for your clinic to view, download and upload patient clinical information.

You will be able to view uploaded letters, shared health summaries, prescription and dispensing records, pathology and diagnostic imaging overviews for your patients if they have opted in to My Health Record and they have given other providers their consent to share their clinical information.

Similarly for you as a health provider, if your patients consent to the uploading of information to My Health Record, you will be able to upload your specialist letters through My Health Record, and prescribing records using the eRx gateway.

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https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/email-sms-vaccine-scams-on-the-way-cyber-experts-20210216-p572us

Email, SMS vaccine scams on the way: cyber experts

Tom Burton Government editor

Feb 16, 2021 – 4.34pm

Cyber experts and authorities are warning of an inundation of vaccine scams, as Australia prepares to distribute COVID-19 vaccines from February 22.

The roll-out of the vaccine in the US and Britain has inspired many vaccine-related scams, with a 300 per cent jump in vaccine-related website domains in the lead-up to the first jabs being distributed.

More than 5000 new domains were registered, according to the CEO of cyber research firm, Security in Depth, Michael Connory.

“We’ve been seeing in the US, but specifically in the UK, the large number – and it’s a huge number – of vaccine-related cyber attacks, primarily through phishing, with individuals and criminal organisations looking at obtaining credentials for individuals,” Mr Connory said.

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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/victoria-taps-microsoft-for-vaccine-distribution-platform-561229

Victoria taps Microsoft for vaccine distribution platform

By Justin Hendry on Feb 19, 2021 9:37AM

Enters $6m contract.

The Victorian government will pay Microsoft almost $6 million to use its Covid vaccine management platform, as the state prepares to immunise its first residents next week.

The newly-renamed Department of Health (DH) revealed details of the $5.8 million contract for a 'vaccination management tool' this week, which will run for an inital six months.

It comes three months after the then Department of Health and Human Services went looking for a cloud-based software solution in a quick-fire market approach.

First reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, the department will use Microsoft's recently annouced vaccination registration and administration solution (VRAS).

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https://www.hospitalhealth.com.au/content/technology/article/enabling-aged-care-with-technological-innovation-1416230296

Enabling aged care with technological innovation

Sunday, 07 February, 2021

Award-winning aged-care provider Whiddon employs more than 2700 staff, caring for more than 2100 older Australians in regional and rural NSW and Queensland. Via residential, community and retirement living services across 26 geographic locations, Whiddon provides holistic care and wellbeing, helping residents to stay active, connected and feeling part of the community. To achieve this goal, Whiddon sees a huge role for technology.

The organisation has faced several challenges: difficulty attracting new and younger staff; an overall reduction in technology investment due to the significant challenges regarding industry funding models, with the majority of rural, regional and remote providers operating at a loss; industry-wide lack of technological maturity and digital literacy; and ageing IT infrastructure that has inhibited Whiddon’s digital ambitions.

A 2020 aged-care financial performance report by StewartBrown found that, excluding the impact of one-off government grants, more than 50% of residential aged-care providers operated at a loss in the last financial year, rising to 66% in regional areas.

“We’re probably the only industry still reliant on the fax machine,” said Regan Stathers, Executive General Manager of Technology and Property at Whiddon.

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https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/disinfectant-robot-ready-to-roll-into-covid-quarantine-hotels-20210211-p571gw.html

Disinfectant robot ready to roll into COVID quarantine hotels

By Cara Waters

Australian startup August Robotics, backed by Atlassian’s co-founders Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar, as well as venture capital firm Blackbird Ventures is launching a disinfectant robot to clean up hotels involved in COVID-19 quarantine programs.

The fully autonomous robot to be launched this month uses high intensity ultraviolet light, which is used in hospital operating theatres. While exposure to intense UV can damage the human skin it is widely seen as one of the most effective tools for virus and bacterial disinfection.

August Robotics has secured $US9.3 million ($12.5 million) in funding from Mr Cannon-Brookes’ Grok Ventures, Blackbird Ventures and Skip Capital, Mr Farquhar’s investment vehicle led by his wife Kim Jackson, to help develop the robot.

August Robotics chief executive and founder Alex Wyatt, 44, said the robot, called Diego, could be used to clean quarantine hotels and premises where there had been a close contact.

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https://www.itwire.com/telecoms-and-nbn/telstra-blocking-1-5m-scam-calls-a-week,-up-from-1m-a-month-previously.html

Tuesday, 16 February 2021 19:19

Telstra blocking 1.5m scam calls a week, up from 1m a month previously  

By Alex Zaharov-Reutt

Telstra has announced the third element of its "Cleaner Pipes" initiative, ensuring that its smart pipes aren't dumb, and are as clean as possible from scam callers, safeguarding "millions of Australians in the process".

Manual scam call blocking was once the order of the day at Australia's biggest telco, Telstra, which was blocking one million scam calls per month, but thanks to the power of automation, this has grown to around 6.5m million scam calls per month on average.

This equates to around 1.5 million scam calls blocked per week, but Telstra advises that this can grow to 500,000 calls being blocked PER DAY across its network.

After all, as Telstra points out, "cyber criminals and scammers have not failed to notice that millions of Australians are now much more dependent on technology, so cyber-crime is on the rise again."

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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/telstra-stands-up-automated-platform-to-block-scam-calls-561106

Telstra stands up automated platform to block scam calls

By Ry Crozier on Feb 16, 2021 12:20PM

'No mean feat', says CEO Andrew Penn.

Telstra said it is blocking up to half a million scam calls on its busiest days using a new automated platform, part of a “double down” of a broader crackdown effort against scams that transit across its network infrastructure.

CEO Andrew Penn said in a blog post that the telco previously blocked around 1 million calls a month using manual processes.

While volumes of scam calls fluctuated day-to-day, Penn said that numbers were generally increasing.

“We’re sometimes blocking up to 500,000 calls a day before they can potentially defraud our customers, which is a huge increase from the 1 million plus scam calls we were blocking on average per month previously,” he said.

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https://itwire.com/telecoms-and-nbn/accc-8-1m-broadband-connections-now-on-the-nbn,-more-than-5-5m-are-50mbps-or-better.html

Friday, 19 February 2021 11:36

ACCC: 8.1m broadband connections now on the NBN, more than 5.5m are 50Mbps or better

By Alex Zaharov-Reutt

There are now more than 8.1 million household and business services connected to the NBN, according to a new ACCC report.

The ACCC's (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) "Wholesale Market Indicators Report", released today, shows 3.6% growth in the December 2020 quarter, meaning an additional 279,347 new households and businesses connected to the NBN.

This coincided with the Minister for Communications declaring in late 2020 that the NBN build was complete and fully operational.

We're told that almost 5.5 million broadband connections, or 68% of all services acquired from NBN, are on higher speed tiers of "50Mbps and above, including about 16% of wholesale services acquired at speeds of 100Mbps or above."

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https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/outrageous-nbn-co-on-notice-over-80m-in-bonuses-20210218-p573ny

‘Outrageous’: NBN Co on notice over $80m in bonuses

Tom McIlroy Political reporter

Feb 18, 2021 – 3.43pm

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher has warned NBN Co not to give staff lavish corporate salaries after it was revealed the company paid $78 million in bonuses last year.

Blaming Labor for the corporate structure of the company charged with building and operating the national broadband network, Mr Fletcher said all government-owned businesses had a responsibility to manage public funds responsibly.

His office contacted NBN Co on Thursday, after documents given to the Senate showed executives received $4.3 million in so-called cash short-term incentive payments in the second half of 2020, including deferred bonuses from the 2017-18 financial year.

The figure includes NBN Co chief executive Stephen Rue and members of the executive committee.

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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/tpg-claims-top-sales-for-nbn-enterprise-broadband-services-561217

TPG claims top sales for NBN enterprise broadband services

By Ry Crozier on Feb 18, 2021 5:13PM

Based on limited set of monthly numbers supplied only to providers.

TPG Telecom has declared itself the “highest seller” of NBN enterprise ethernet services, based on market position data supplied by NBN Co to retail service providers each month.

Group executive for enterprise and government Elizabeth Aris said in a statement that the company’s strong performance came from its expertise and “customer-centric” approach.

Aris came into TPG late last year after previously leading TasmaNet.

She said the business case for NBN enterprise ethernet “is especially compelling when 90 percent of all businesses within the NBN fixed line footprint across Australia can now get a zero-cost fibre build on a three-year term.”

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https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/nbn-co-paid-staff-almost-80m-in-bonuses-in-2020-20210217-p573gs

NBN Co paid staff almost $80m in bonuses in 2020

Tom McIlroy Political reporter

Feb 17, 2021 – 6.09pm

The company running the national broadband network paid staff nearly $80 million in bonuses in the second half of 2020.

Just months after it was revealed more than 850 staff at NBN Co were being paid more than $200,000 a year and much of its workforce take home six-figure salaries, new data shows the total for bonuses paid between July and December 2020 topped $77.5 million.

Executives received $4.3 million in so-called cash short-term incentive payments, including deferred bonuses from the 2017-18 financial year.

The figure includes NBN Co chief executive Stephen Rue and members of the government-owned company’s executive committee.

Bonuses paid to the company’s more than 6000 employees totalled more than $73.2 million. Contractors are not eligible for bonuses.

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https://www.afr.com/companies/telecommunications/aussie-broadband-joins-nbn-criticism-as-earnings-double-20210217-p57371

Aussie Broadband joins NBN criticism as earnings double

Lucas Baird Reporter

Feb 17, 2021 – 12.28pm

Key Points

• Revenue ($m) 157.7, up 89pc from year earlier 83.4
• Net loss ($m) 10.5 v 1.4
• Interim dividend nil v nil

Aussie Broadband joined rivals in haranguing NBN Co over its latest wholesale pricing review, saying more changes are needed so customers do not find their speeds hobbled or bills hiked as internet use advances.

Mr Britt’s attack came as his company reported an after-tax loss of $10.5 million in the half year to December 31 as expenses matched fattening revenues. 

While NBN Co – the government-owned corporation tasked with building and managing the national broadband network – proposed a discount to maligned capacity charges known as connectivity virtual circuit, it did not suggest scrapping the levy in a review released on Monday but promised to examine alternative pricing structures suggested by the industry.

NBN Co says it is open to suggestions from the telecoms sector on how to resolve the CVC issue, as long as it still drives revenue in the national infrastructure.

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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/aussie-broadband-brings-in-nbn-users-chasing-a-better-experience-561178

Aussie Broadband brings in NBN users chasing a better experience

By Ry Crozier on Feb 18, 2021 6:50AM

Accounts for almost three-quarters of sign-ups.

Aussie Broadband’s growth in residential broadband is coming largely from NBN users “disenfranchised” with their existing provider and looking to make a switch.

Managing director Phillip Britt told the company’s inaugural half-year results briefing on Wednesday afternoon that almost three-quarters of sign-ups are existing NBN users.

“Whilst the NBN main rollout is now complete, ultimately we’re seeing over 70 percent of our orders coming from people that are switching from other providers,” Britt said.

“These are people that are already connected to the NBN that are disenfranchised with their current provider for whatever reason, and so we’re still seeing strong connection orders even right through in January and now of customers that are switching providers.”

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https://itwire.com/telecoms-and-nbn/nbn-co-pricing-review-will-lead-to-$2-per-customer-price-rise-budde.html

Wednesday, 17 February 2021 08:45

NBN Co pricing review will lead to $2 per customer price rise: Budde

By Sam Varghese

The options offered by the NBN Co in its latest pricing review consultation will lead to a price rise of $2 per customer no matter which option a retail service provider chooses, well-known independent telecommunications analyst Paul Budde says.

In a blog post, Budde pointed out that the NBN CO had always said its average revenue per user was central to its breaking even and this new pricing move would increase the ARPU, taking it halfway to the target which is between $51 and $53.

At the moment, the ARPU is $45 and had been at that level over the last few years, making it clear that the company still had a financial problem, he said.

The NBN Co, the company rolling out the national broadband network, issued its pricing review consultation paper on Monday, saying that it was seeking to "to deliver value, certainty and simplicity to the telecommunication industry and customers".

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https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/no-joy-for-telcos-as-nbn-co-stands-firm-on-high-bandwidth-price-20210215-p572lv.html

No joy for telcos as NBN Co stands firm on high bandwidth price

By Zoe Samios

February 16, 2021 — 12.01am

NBN Co has steered clear of giving telco service providers any substantial relief on wholesale prices, pushing back a review of its controversial pricing structure by another two years.

While NBN Co, the company building and operating the National Broadband Network (NBN), hasn’t taken the option of scrapping the contentious charge for bandwidth – Connectivity Virtual Circuit (CVC) – off the table, the telcos say they have been left to deal with wholesale prices that continue to trend upwards.

The CVC charge, which covers the amount of bandwidth telcos can make available to customers, has been criticised by the telco industry since the inception of the NBN. The greater the peak usage of customers, the more bandwidth telcos have to acquire, which means a higher CVC charge.

However, CVC is crucial to NBN Co’s effort to increase its residential average revenue per user (ARPU) from $45 to $49 by the end of financial year 2023. Rather than remove the charge NBN Co on Monday proposed a two-year extension of discounts on certain packages and promised to explore alternative pricing structures in due course.

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https://www.itwire.com/telecoms-and-nbn/nbn-co-begins-consultation-%E2%80%98with-industry-in-two-part-wholesale-pricing-consultation-paper%E2%80%99.html

Monday, 15 February 2021 14:42

NBN Co begins consultation ‘with industry in two-part wholesale pricing consultation paper

By Alex Zaharov-Reutt

NBN Co has released its “Pricing Review 2021 Consultation Paper 1”, which the company says “seeks to deliver value, certainty and simplicity to the telecommunication industry and customers.”

Before I start, the link to the NBN Co Pricing Review 2021 Consultation Paper 1 is here, and a reprinting of NBN Co's media release is further below, after some commentary of my own.

If there’s one thing Australians know about the NBN, is that it has been a mess, or at least, it has been so in the past. A mess of connection types, speeds, plans, wholesale prices for amounts of data being too expensive for providers who want to offer the unlimited plans that consumers expect, and more.

I mean, just ask people about their NBN experience, and you hear tales of woe, although that said, I know many people who are on the NBN and today, are happy with their connections. Some friends who connected to the NBN over the past couple of years expected problems with their connections and were pleasantly surprised when they were connected without any problems at all.

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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nbn-co-hunts-more-residential-revenue-in-2022-561066

NBN Co hunts more residential revenue in 2022

By Ry Crozier on Feb 15, 2021 1:21PM

While delaying substantive pricing action until FY24.

NBN Co is pitching a $2 a month increase to the fixed portion of its 50Mbps-plus service prices from May next year, with substantive changes to its price strategy deferred until 2023.

The company released its latest pricing consultation to retail service providers (RSPs) and other interested parties on Monday morning.

From the outset, it is clear that the proposals have much to do with resuscitating NBN Co’s stalled residential average revenue per user (ARPU), which somehow needs to hit $49 by FY23; it is currently stuck at $45.

There are two options on the table from NBN Co at this time. 

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https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/nasa-s-perseverance-rover-streaks-toward-a-landing-on-mars-20210219-p573x5.html

‘Touchdown confirmed!’: NASA’s Perseverance rover lands on Mars

By Marcia Dunn

Updated February 19, 2021 — 7.48amfirst published at 7.44am

Cape Canaveral: A NASA rover streaked through the orange Martian sky and landed on the planet on Friday AEDT, accomplishing the riskiest step yet in an epic quest to bring back rocks that could answer whether life ever existed on Mars.

Ground controllers at the space agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, cheered and exchanged fist bumps and high-fives in triumph — and relief — on receiving confirmation that the six-wheeled Perseverance had touched down on the red planet, long a deathtrap for incoming spacecraft.

It took a tension-filled 11 1/2 minutes for the signal to reach Earth. It landed at 7.55AEDT.

“Touchdown confirmed! Perseverance safely on the surface of Mars,” flight controller Swati Mohan announced.

The landing of the six-wheeled vehicle marked the third visit to Mars in just over a week. Two spacecraft from the United Arab Emirates and China swung into orbit around the planet on successive days last week.

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Enjoy!

David.