Australia news live: Apple and Google app stores to be forced to play fair on search and payment; Labor announces R&D review
Key events
The science minister, Ed Husic, is speaking on RN Breakfast now about the year-long review of Australia’s research and development investment.
He is being questioned by Patricia Karvelas about the decision to appoint Tesla chair Robyn Denholm to lead the review. Asked if the link to Tesla and Elon Musk and his growing influence was part of the consideration, Husic said:
No, I think, if I may emphasise, I guess, Robyn’s involvement in a company that recognises in, crucially, the value of R and D and improving the way to get things done and to be able to create an edge, and particularly if you look at what Tesla has done, be able to turn an idea into reality at a time where there are a lot of doubters over a long period of time.
The type of people that we’ve got involved, we’ve been thinking about for quite some time, and what they bring to the table.
Husic said Australia’s research and development performance has been dropping in the past ten years in comparison to “our competitors in the OECD.”
Sarah Basford Canales
A year-long review of Australia’s research and development investment will soon be underway in an effort to boost the country’s scientific output and manufacturing self-sufficiency.
The science minister, Ed Husic, announced on Monday the review will inquire into the value of existing investments and ties between research and industry in order for Australia to boost its value and drive productivity.
The investment into research and development as a proportion of GDP is at 1.68%, the government said, tailing behind the OECD average of 2.73%. In 2022-23, federal and state government expenditure stood at $4.3bn.
The review will be led by Tesla chair Robyn Denholm, who will be joined by former chief scientist, Ian Chubb, former Australian of the Year, Fiona Wood, and Kate Cornick, the chief executive of the Victorian government’s startup agency, LaunchVic.
The report will be delivered by the end of 2025.
Husic said:
Our ideas and intellectual property are an indicator of future economic success. This review is designed to give us an evidence-based pathway to stronger growth. We said after the pandemic we would boost our manufacturing self-sufficiency. That is a big challenge, but Australian know-how can help us do things smarter and sharpening our edge against international competition.
Sarah Basford Canales
Apple and Google app stores to be forced to play fair on search and payment
Australians are set to get more choice and control over how they search for apps if new rules to slap big tech companies, such as Apple, Google and Facebook, with $50m fines for not playing fair are passed.
The plans would give the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission more powers to prevent digital platforms from promoting their own apps over competitors, forcing users to pay for in-app purchases through their payment systems and stopping users from switching from a platform’s app to an alternative.
In a speech to be given on Monday night, the assistant treasurer, Stephen Jones, will say:
“We want to knock these practices on the head. And we want to lift transparency in a sector that has often been shrouded in secrecy so that consumers get a fair go. And that small businesses have a chance to deliver good products to the market.”
The plans will focus on app marketplaces and ad tech services and will allow the consumer watchdog to fine offending companies up to $50m or 30% of annual turnover.
Jones will say:
This framework will lead to more choice, lower prices and fairer outcomes for consumers. And it will level the playing field for small businesses and give them a chance to compete with good, innovative ideas.
One of the biggest stoushes in recent years over the prace is between Fortnite developers Epic Games, and Google and Apple.
The popular game developer is taking Apple and Google to court in Australia after Fortnite was removed from their app stores for introducing its own in-game payment system, which circumvented the marketplaces’ fee system.
Good morning
Jordyn Beazley
Good morning, I’ll be with you on the blog today.
Australians are set to get more choice and control over how they search for apps if new rules to slap big tech companies, such as Apple, Google and Facebook, with $50m fines for not playing fair are passed.
A year-long review of Australia’s research and development investment will soon be under way in an effort to boost the country’s scientific output and manufacturing self-sufficiency.
As always, if you see anything you’d like to bring to our attention, please send me an email at jordyn.beazley@theguardian.com.
