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Business News Releases

Now you can vote online with a 'selfie'


LONDON --Smartmatic is officially presenting this week the first secure online voting solution where the voter's identity is verified with a 'selfie'.

The greatest challenge for online voting has always been to make sure that whoever is voting is really the person that is eligible to vote, and also to guarantee that every person can vote only once. This has been finally solved by providing a secure digital identity to voters where their facial image is taken as part of the registration process and then checked with a selfie prior to casting their vote online.

The presentation will take place during the E-VOTE-ID 2016 conference in Bregenz, Austria, on October 18-21. This event, gathers election experts from around the world, to share research, experience and best practice in the realm of electronic voting and identity management.

“We are proud to be presenting this ‘class-leading’ solution that seamlessly integrates online authentication and voting, thereby empowering election authorities to successfully address the challenges of remote voting and voter eligibility assurance. With our solution, you can vote online securely with a selfie,” said Antonio Mugica, Smartmatic’s CEO.

Smartmatic’s online voting system, TIVI, leverages facial biometrics to allow voters to authenticate themselves using their smartphone, tablet, PC or laptop. Integrating biometric authentication with online voting eliminates the risk of voter impersonation and guarantees that only eligible voters have access to the system and can successfully cast their vote.

TIVI is the only online voting solution in the world that allows universal digital verifiability to prove the integrity of the vote, from the point of casting up to the counting central facility. Utilising advanced cryptographic techniques and a Blockchain based ballot box, it guarantees voter privacy, vote security and vote integrity.

More information can be found at tivi.io.

About Smartmatic

Founded in the US in 2000, Smartmatic is the leading provider of voting technologies and solutions worldwide. Today, out of the eight countries pioneering election automation Smartmatic provides technology and services to six of them: Belgium, Brazil, Estonia, the Philippines, US and Venezuela.

The company has managed elections across five continents, processing over 3.7 billion votes. Smartmatic is headquartered in London, UK.

For more information, visit www.smartmatic.com.

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Public Accounts Committee starts new inquiries

THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has launched new inquiries into Commonwealth procurement, performance and risk management as part of its examination of Auditor-General reports.

These new inquiries form the first tranche of the Committee’s work in the 45th Parliament.

The JCPAA is a central committee of the Parliament and has the power to initiate its own inquiries on the Commonwealth public sector. The Committee examines all reports of the Auditor-General tabled in the Parliament and can inquire into any items, matters or circumstances connected with these reports. A large number of Auditor-General reports have been tabled since the Committee last met in May 2016, prior to the dissolution of the 44th Parliament.

The newly elected Committee Chair, Senator Dean Smith, said that the JCPAA examines whether public money is used in an efficient, effective, economical and ethical manner.

“As Parliament’s joint public administration committee, the JCPAA has an important role in holding Commonwealth agencies to account, and our inquiries further strengthen the performance and accountability of agencies entrusted with billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money,” Senator Smith said.

“The Committee is focusing on common audit themes identified by the Auditor-General. By taking a thematic approach to these inquiries, the Committee seeks to encourage improvements and shared learning in key areas of public administration.”

“Reports presented by the Auditor-General are valuable because they identify issues requiring improvement and detail examples of sound public administration.”

The Committee has commenced the following inquiries based on audit reports, focused on:

  • Commonwealth procurement—procurement under the OneSKY Australia Program; delivery of health services in onshore immigration detention; and procurement of garrison support and welfare services in offshore processing centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea
  • Commonwealth performance framework—implementation of appropriate performance information by departments to strengthen accountability, including in the Higher Education Loan Program
  • Commonwealth risk management—risk assessment processes to ensure effective monitoring and reporting of the Disability Support Pension
  • Public sector governance—the cost effectiveness of efforts to streamline regulation

The Committee invites submissions to the inquiries, addressing the terms of reference. Submissions are requested by Monday, 7 November 2016. Public hearings will be held from late November 2016. Further information about the inquiries can be accessed via the Committee’s website.

The Committee’s inquiries are based on the following Auditor-General reports:

Commonwealth procurement:

  • No. 1 (2016-17) Procurement of the International Centre for Complex Project Management to Assist on the OneSKY Australia Program
  • No. 13 (2016-17) Delivery of Health Services in Onshore Immigration Detention
  • No. 16 (2016-17) Offshore Processing Centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea: Procurement of Garrison Support and Welfare Services

Commonwealth performance framework

Commonwealth risk management

Public sector governance

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Innovation and Science Australia Bill passes Parliament

THE Australian Parliament has last week passed the Innovation and Science Australia Bill – "cementing innovation and science at the heart of our long-term plan to secure Australia’s future economic prosperity" according to Industry, Innovation and Science Minister Greg Hunt.

"This establishes in legislation Innovation and Science Australia (ISA) – the organisation charged with helping the Government complete the three waves of the National Innovation and Science Agenda," Mr Hunt said.

"Chaired by Bill Ferris, with Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel as Deputy Chair, the talent on the ISA board represents innovators, scientists and entrepreneurs with track records of success.

"Innovation and Science Australia will work across government, providing guidance around our $10.1 billion investment in 2016/17 in innovation, science and research.

"ISA will also promote investment in industry, innovation, science and research in Australia, including showcasing successful innovators, entrepreneurs and researchers," Mr Hunt said.

"And it will directly engage international, business and community sectors to improve the overall performance of the national innovation and science system.

"Science and innovation are national priorities for the Turnbull Government.

"Building our strength in science allows us to capture greater opportunities for our people.

"Innovation is a serious, long-term plan to secure Australia’s future economic prosperity and create more jobs."

www.industry.gov.au

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Call for Encouraging Entrepreneurship facilitators

THE Australian Government is calling for organisations and individuals to apply to be one of three new Encouraging Entrepreneurship Facilitators.

From December, Entrepreneurship Facilitators will operate in three priority regions that are experiencing high levels of youth unemployment—Cairns, the Hunter region (including Newcastle) and Launceston— to help young Australians start their own small business.

Minister for Employment, Senator Michaelia Cash, said the pioneering initiative will provide practical support to young people who want to turn a business idea into a real-life, self-employment enterprise.

"Self-employment and entrepreneurship provide real opportunities for young people who are unemployed, but only a small number take up this option,” Minister Cash said.

Ms Cash said Entrepreneurship Facilitators in priority regions will help provide practical support to assist local young people develop their ideas into successful businesses.

"The Turnbull Government is supporting entrepreneurship and self-employment among young people as we fundamentally believe that the best form of welfare is a job,” Minister Cash said.

"Entrepreneurship is a powerful option for overcoming unemployment; however, only a small number of job seekers pursue this pathway.”

Encouraging Entrepreneurship Facilitators is part of the Government’s Youth Employment Package that was announced in the 2016-17 Budget. Entrepreneurship Facilitators will:

  • promote entrepreneurship and self-employment
  • encourage young people to develop new business ideas
  • assist potential young entrepreneurs in accessing assistance to support and establish their own business
  • link potential entrepreneurs to existing programs, including the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS).

Applications are sought from organisations and individuals with strong and relevant regional knowledge and a commitment to youth business development.

The Department of Employment will host an information session for potential applicants via a webinar on 21 October 2016.

For more information on Encouraging Entrepreneurship Facilitators and/or how to apply, call 1300 733 514 or visit:https://www.employment.gov.au/employment-services-procurement-information

Applications close at 5pm AEDT on 3 November 2016. 

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Applications closing soon for the 2017 Rural Women’s Award

JUST three weeks remain to submit applications for the 2017 RIRDC Rural Women’s Award. This is one of Australia’s highest honours for rural women. It is a powerful program supporting women who aspire to lead positive change in rural industries and communities.

The Award has produced a networked alumnae of more than 200 rural women. It works to underpin and grow this dynamic and talented pool of rural leaders. Much more than just an award, it offers unique development opportunities, as well as access to a nation-wide network of business, community and industry professionals. 

All state and territory winners receive a bursary of $10,000 to bring to life an idea benefiting rural Australia. The bursary can be used for a broad range of project ideas, including overseas study tours and developing pilot programs and community initiatives. The national winner and runner-up, selected from the state winners, receive a further $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.

John Harvey, RIRDC’s Managing Director, encourages industry and the community to get involved and nominate emerging rural leaders. “This Award is an important avenue to recognise exceptional rural women from diverse backgrounds who contribute in many different ways. They’re community volunteers, farmers, business leaders and industry representatives,” he said.

Sophie Hansen from Orange, New South Wales was recently announced as the national winner of the 2016 RIRDC Rural Women’s Award. Sophie’s project ‘My Open Kitchen’ is a unique online learning course. Sophie is assisting food producers to embrace the power of social media to share their food stories and better connect with their consumers.

Sophie is thrilled to be part of this life-changing experience saying, “the Award celebrates inspiring women and the positive impact they have on rural industries, businesses and communities.”

The Award is an initiative of the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) in partnership with the state and territory agencies responsible for agriculture, primary industries and resources. The Award is proudly supported by Platinum Sponsor, Westpac Agribusiness and media partners, RM Williams OUTBACK Magazine, ABC Radio and Fairfax Agricultural Media.

Application forms can be downloaded from the RIRDC website: www.rirdc.gov.au/rwa

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