Op-ed

The Latitude Financial attack clearly shows that criminal groups are moving to a business model of selling Australian’s highly sensitive personal information, including biometric information, on the dark web. What’s most disturbing about the Latitude Financial attack is that at least 100,000 facial images, matched with full drivers’ license details, were stollen.

Federal Budgets are not only about bold and visionary futures of the economy. They must, as a first priority, ensure we are caring for and including our most vulnerable in the immediate term. It is possible to invest for the circumstances we find ourselves in now, while retaining a long term view of the horizon. Here is how we can improve outcomes for the future. 

It’s no surprise the pandemic completely changed everyone’s lives, with a good majority of employees leaving their jobs because they are not only wanting more from their careers, but needed more support from their workplace. Much has been made of “The Great Resignation," with work itself evolving, it reflects a reprioritisation of personal choices on a global scale — creating a discontinuity that should be of great concern to every leader.

Financial volatility is nothing new. That said, Australian banks and insurance companies will weather the economic storm of 2023 just as they did following the 2007-2008 global financial crisis, the early 1990s recession and previous financial turmoil. One thing that remains constant is the financial services sector keeps moving forward, particularly as tech advances and consumer behaviours change. Even during this economic environment, there are 5 emerging trends across Australia’s banking and insurance sectors. 

Scammers continue to find novel ways to steal cryptocurrency and this time they’re riding on OpenAI’s GPT-4 launch. Tenable Research has found that a day after the eagerly anticipated launch of OpenAI’s Generative Pre-trained Transformer Version 4 (GPT-4), on 15 March, scammers began sending phishing emails and tweeting phishing links to crypto enthusiasts about an OpenAI crypto token. The only problem is - an OpenAI crypto token does not exist.

There’s no denying the benefits that the shift towards hybrid work has provided since the pandemic began. Workers have been allowed to take Zoom meetings from the comfort of their own homes while wearing pyjamas if they really want to, using their laptops and mobile devices to communicate with co-workers in the office or from their own homes if they want.

Australia’s central bank on raised interest rates for a third straight month as it struggles to contain surging inflation, risking an economic downturn. Wrapping up its July policy meeting, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifted its cash rate by 50 basis points to 1.35%, a 125 basis points of hikes since May 2022. Industry leaders offer insights on the central bank's move and how it is to shape the course of business for various industries going forward.

Have you ever discovered that a job candidate lied about a qualification on their CV? According to estimates by Australia’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), 25% of people misrepresent their skills, qualifications, certifications or expertise on their CV. Employers are looking for a quick way to verify an applicant’s credentials and avoid the long-term costs of bad hiring. After all, the cost of a wrong hire is not only damaging to individual teams, but to company culture, employee wellbeing, and overall job satisfaction. 

As women continue to make their mark in the poker world, it is essential to recognize and celebrate their achievements while also working to address the remaining barriers that may still hold them back. With continued effort and support from the poker community, we can build a more inclusive and equitable future for all players, regardless of gender.

Make sure your 2022 sustainability report is a balanced one, with honesty and openness about the good and the bad. Not only will it help you build trust with your stakeholders, it can also signpost the way towards a more sustainable and successful future.