Relax in New South Wales waters

New South Wales invites visitors to cool off in nature's most beautiful settings during the Australian summer. 

Coastal classics and ocean pools

More than 100 ocean pools sparkle along the NSW coast. There's Bogey Hole in Newcastle, NSW's oldest rock pool. Hand-carved out of the rock platform in 1819, this heritage-listed gem offers dramatic views and a refreshing dip.

Source: Destination NSW. The Bermagui Blue Pool at the Sapphire Coast.

In the Sawtell and ECO-certified destination Coffs Coast area, the Sawtell Memorial Rockpool is a beautiful spot with its natural rock bar edge.  

Another showstopping ocean pool experience is to be had at the Blowhole Point Ocean Pool in Kiama. Located by the Kiama Blowhole, this pool offers calm waters and amazing coastal views.  

Further south at the Sapphire Coast, the spectacular Bermagui Blue Pool is a natural rock pool with turquoise waters and sweeping coastal vistas. 

Waterfalls and natural pools

In the Southern Highlands, luxuriate in the natural pools at Bargo State Conservation Area, where swimming spots at Little River and Moore Creek offer refreshing bushland escapes.

Alternatively, head to the ECO-certified Blue Mountains, which boasts the Blue Pool in Glenbrook* and the Victoria Falls waterhole.  

Unicorn Falls in the Tweed region in the north is another hidden gem with a serene swimming opportunity. 

Inland escapes

Head inland for thermal pools and hidden swim spots surrounded by rugged bush and epic scenery.

The Yarrangobilly Caves Thermal Pool in Kosciuszko National Park is a year-round 27^o C favourite fed by a natural spring. Swim surrounded by the alpine scenery and limestone caves of the Snowy Mountains.

Or visit Sofala near Bathurst and try your luck panning for gold dust in the Turon River - and if fortune doesn't strike, you can still enjoy fishing and swimming.

Explore 

Stay safe and well in New South Wales with:  

Travel information: Health & safety | Visit NSW

Waterfall safety | NSW National Parks

*Check conditions with the National Parks Information Centre at the Glenbrook Park Entrance before swimming.  

Singapore leads the world in talent competitiveness

Source: INSEAD GTCI infographic. GTCI ranks in 2023 vs 2025. Singapore has moved up while Australia has moved down in the top 12.

Singapore has leapfrogged Switzerland to take top spot in the latest Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI), riding on its strength in cultivating adaptable, digitally fluent and innovation-ready workforces in the age of AI.

This year is the first time the city-state topped the annual ranking, which was launched by INSEAD in 2013 as a benchmark for policy thinking on labour markets, work organisation and talent flows.

Themed Resilience in the Age of Disruption, the 11th GTCI examines how nations and economies are building talent systems capable of weathering disruptions. The ranking of 135 economies is based on 77 indicators, including soft skills and AI talent concentration, across six dimensions: Enable, Attract, Grow, Retain, Vocational and Technical Skills, and Generalist Adaptive Skills.

Lily Fang, INSEAD’s Dean of Research and Innovation, commented: “This year’s report should be seen as much more than a race between nations. It offers leaders thoughtful points of reflection on how to integrate powerful technologies, such as AI, into the grand pursuit of human progress.”

This year’s ranking also marks the launch of a new partnership between INSEAD and the Portulans Institute, a non-profit research outfit based in the US. “This collaboration brings renewed depth and clarity to the GTCI at a time when rapid technological change, geopolitical uncertainty and profound societal transitions make dependable talent metrics more essential than ever,” said Rafael Escalona Reynoso, CEO of Portulans Institute.

Singapore stands apart in the latest ranking for the constant evolution of its educational system and its forward-looking approach to nurturing an adaptive and innovation-driven workforce, said the GTCI report.

The city-state was ranked first in Generalist Adaptive Skills for a workforce armed with the soft skills, digital literacy and innovation-oriented thinking that today’s fast-shifting landscape demands. Generalist Adaptive Skills has emerged as one of the strongest determinants of talent competitiveness. Singapore’s ability to retain talent also surged seven spots from 2023, to 31st in 2025. 

The city-state has also scored well for its effective governance and high standard of living, in addition to the constant evolution of its educational system and its forward-looking approach to nurturing an adaptive, innovation-driven workforce. Furthermore, Singapore placed first in the Formal Education and Regulatory Landscape measures, showing the depth and resilience of its human capital systems and institutional frameworks. 

“Economies that cultivate adaptable, cross-functional and AI-literate workforces tend to be better positioned to convert disruption into opportunity and sustain long-term competitiveness,” said Professor Paul Evans, Emeritus Professor of Organisational Behaviour at INSEAD and co-editor of the report.

“This year’s results underscore that talent competitiveness is not solely a function of income level, but of strategic policy orientation, institutional quality and effective mobilisation of human capital resources.”

GTCI 2025: The top 20

1. Singapore	11. Ireland
2. Switzerland	12. UK
3. Denmark	13. Iceland
4. Finland	14. Canada
5. Sweden	15. Belgium
6. Netherlands	16. Austria
7. Norway	17. Germany
8. Luxembourg	18. New Zealand
9. US	19. France
10. Australia	20. Czech Republic

One of the defining messages of GTCI 2025 is that the ability to translate investments into meaningful outcomes will set economies apart in the talent race. Singapore, South Korea and Israel stood out for their ability to get better talent outcomes with fewer resources. 

This was also true for some lower-middle income countries such as Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Low-income countries also demonstrated strong foundations for talent development. 

Evans said: “Economies that align education, labour and innovation systems towards adaptive talent development can achieve high performance even with modest income levels.” 

Regionally speaking, there were few surprises. Europe continues to dominate the ranking, accounting for 18 of the top 25 positions. In Asia and Oceania, Australia (10th) and New Zealand (18th) outscored Singapore in retaining talent but fell behind in General Adaptive Skills.  

China’s decline from 40th to 53rd reflected a less favourable business climate and labour market, though the report acknowledges that insufficient data could also have played a part. India, on the other hand, climbed three spots, to 100th. Strengthening the quality of its vocational education and employability could help it capitalise on its digital strengths and world-leading IT service exports.  

North Africa and Western Asia were led by Israel (23rd) while the UAE (25th) topped the region in attracting talent and developing skills, although it lagged in high-level skills.

“True resilience in talent is turning adversity into a catalyst for innovation, adaptability and renewed purpose,” said Professor Felipe Monteiro, GTCI Academic Director and Senior Affiliate Professor of Strategy at INSEAD.

“Resilience means learning how to bounce forward, not just bounce back from the inevitable shocks and crises.”

Escalona Reynoso added: “What matters most today are adaptive capabilities: the ability to collaborate, think across disciplines, innovate under pressure and navigate fast-moving, tech-driven environments.

“These are the skills that increasingly define a country’s competitiveness - and the GTCI now captures this reality more clearly than ever.”

Escalona Reynoso, Professor Evans and Professor Monteiro co-authored an INSEAD Knowledge article that identified the Nordic nations, Singapore and Switzerland as good examples of societal resilience in action. Resilience entails giving priority to active labour market practices to support citizens in bouncing forward from job loss, which may accelerate with the impact of AI, they explained.

Resilience also means having educational systems that help people learn from adversity, alongside a continued focus on developing organisational agility and collaborative problem-solving. To achieve resilience, people must be able to collaborate, think across disciplines, innovate under pressure and navigate fast-moving, tech-driven environments. The Generalist Adaptive Skills dimension of this year’s report operationalises this idea within the talent framework, while new indicators on AI capability, soft skills, employee well-being and workforce resilience measure not only where countries stand, but their preparedness for what comes next.

Taking an AI lens to the situation, the authors said that "the capacity to integrate AI tools, think critically about their use, and combine technological fluency with human-centric soft skills will be indispensable".

Explore

Download the report and infographics at https://www.insead.edu/global-talent-competitiveness-index

Hashtag: #GTCI2025

Edge unveils Tastes of the Australian Outback dinner buffet experience

Source: Pan Pacific Singapore. The spread at Tastes of the Australian Outback at award-winning buffet restaurant, Edge, located at Pan Pacific Singapore.

Pan Pacific Singapore’s award-winning buffet restaurant, Edge, presents Tastes of the Australian Outback, a dinner experience available daily from 14 October to 9 November 2025. Led by Executive Chef Andy Oh and his culinary team, the exclusive spread is presented in partnership with Indoguna Singapore, a purveyor of the gourmet products and ingredients. 

Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or simply indulging, Edge’s Tastes of the Australian Outback is designed for an evening to be remembered. Tastes of the Australian Outback highlights premium Australian produce, featuring delicacies from both land and sea, alongside Edge’s signature international spread. Indulge in freshly-shucked Tasmanian oysters, poached whole rainbow trout, and Teochew-style steamed giant Australian Queensland grouper. 

Savour a feast of premium meats and exclusive cuts, from the signature carving station, highlighting succulent 65°C sous vide slow-roasted Australian Black Angus beef, slow-roasted kangaroo leg marinated in Taylor port wine and Australian duck bourguignon with nashi pear. The charcoal barbecue grill will also offer grilled olive-marinated spatchcock with roasted parsnips, and Pacific mussels in Chardonnay sauce. 

Indoguna Singapore Ambassador Executive Chef Dayan Hartill-Law of Palette Restaurant in Gold Coast, Australia, will make a guest appearance at Edge at 6 pm on 14 October 2025, where he will join Executive Chef Oh and his team to officially launch the Tastes of the Australian Outback buffet spread. Chef Dayan, who has two decades of fine-dining experience and a philosophy built on respect for ingredients, will share his insights and cooking techniques for the exclusive Australian meat cuts featured in the buffet spread.

Details 

Tastes of the Australian Outback at Edge
14 October 2025 until 9 November 2025
Mondays to Sundays
Available for dinner from 6 pm to 10 pm
S$120++ per adult | Inclusive of free flow of soft drinks
*All prices are subject to service charge and prevailing government taxes unless indicated otherwise.

View the Tastes of the Australian Outback digital menu at https://www.menu-ppsin.panpacific.com/edge-tastes-of-the-australian-outback-dinner

Make a reservation at +65 6826 8240 or email dining.ppsin@panpacific.com

Hashtags: #PanPacificSingapore, #EdgeSG, and #ShareYourMoments  

Baked goods in Canberra: in a class of their own

Canberra is making a name for itself as home to some of the best pastry in Australia. Expect artisanal sourdough, laminated pastries*, iced brioche buns and macarons from this selection of bakeries and patisseries scattered across the city: 

Source: VisitCanberra. Pastries from UNDER.

UNDER 
1/30 Mawson Place, Mawson 

UNDER started life as a market stall, where it became famous for freshly-baked cardamom and cinnamon buns. It moved into its current location in 2020, and now has a cult following. UNDER specialises in handcrafted sourdough, sweet buns, and pastries. 

Silo Bakery + Cafe
36 Giles Street, Kingston 

This bakery and cafe has long been regarded as one of Canberra's best bakeries. Famous for its pastries, artisanal breads and tarts, this venue also offers sourdough or rye loaf, as well as almond croissants. The cafe has an all-day menu and coffee. 

Three Mills
Woden, Fyshwick and Belconnen 

Having recently welcomed another outpost in Woden, Three Mills is fast becoming a Canberra institution for artisan breads, pastries and hot baked goods. Its sourdough uses house-milled flour, traditional long fermentation techniques and local ingredients, while its handrolled pastries include croissants, danishes and escargots (a spiral pastry with raisins) as well as quiches, sausage rolls and pies. 

Flute
8 Barrier Street, Fyshwick 

Flute's Instagram feed is filled with macarons, gateaux, and iced brioche buns. They also produce large flourless cakes, with gluten-free options available. 

Wildflour
Kingston, Fyshwick & Weston 

Matcha croissants, Biscoff buns, pearl milk tea pancakes, soft cinnamon donuts and bread fresh from the oven are some of the items on offer. Get ONA coffee on tap. 

Space Kitchen
3G/12 Furzer Street, Phillip

Expect a sugar rush when you visit the Willy Wonka-inspired Space Kitchen, which was named Best Patisserie in Australia in 2022. This quirky eatery produces wild desserts and Instagrammable pick-me-ups. ;

The Bakesmith at Pialligo 
12 Beltana Road, Pialligo 

This bakery and cafe located at The Commons serves up classical French sweets and pastries baked daily by owner and baker Natalie Van den Bosch. To complement her treats, guests can try out the savoury breakfast and lunch menu and cups of just-roasted coffee.

Explore 

Visit https://visitcanberra.com.au/food-and-drink for more details.

Hashtags: #bakedgoods, #foodie, #bakery, #Canberra

*Laminated pastries are made by folding butter into dough and rolling it out many times over before baking.

New South Wales is Australia's favourite regional holiday destination

Regional NSW was Australia's favourite regional holiday destination in the year ending March 2024, attracting 66 million domestic visitors. 

Source: TRA. International tourism trends for NSW as of December 2023.

The latest data from Tourism Research Australia (TRA) shows regional NSW also recorded the highest year-on-year growth in regional Australia during the period and experienced the best post-pandemic recovery. Domestic overnight visitor numbers to regional NSW in the year ending March 2024 were the second highest on record at 27.1 million.

When compared with the closest corresponding period pre-pandemic (year ending March 2020), visitation was up 4.9%. The top three regions were the Hunter at 114.7% of March 2020 results, the South Coast at 113.2%, and New England North West at 112.3%.

Domestic overnight visitor growth was up 3.3% year on year for regional NSW. New England North West had the strongest growth (up 16.5%), followed by the Central Coast (11.2%).

Destination NSW Acting CEO Ian Maltman said: “These results confirm regional NSW is leading post-pandemic visitor economy rebound in regional Australia.

“Destination NSW has a laser focus on ensuring the visitor economy continues to grow in regional NSW through its capability-building NSW First industry programme, marketing initiatives and vibrant events calendar.”

“NSW is home to Australia's most diverse landscapes - visitors can drive from the Snowys to the Sapphire Coast in a few hours, experience the vastly different climates of Byron Bay and Broken Hill, the sandstone cliffs of the Blue Mountains to the volcanic rock of The Warrumbungles," Maltman added.

“In addition to its spectacular geography, regional NSW is also home to some of Australia's most iconic events, ranging from the Tamworth Country Music Festival to the Narooma Oyster Festival and the world's biggest ute muster in Deniliquin.

“This collision of diverse natural wonders and vibrant culture energises visitors and ensures they return over and over again.”

Regional NSW was also the domestic daytrip capital of Australia in the year ending March 2024, recording 38.9 million domestic daytrips, 84.8 % of March 2020 levels.

The top destination for domestic daytrips were the Hunter, which welcomed 7.27 million trips (up 5.3%) and the North Coast, which hosted 7.25 million trips (up 17.6%). The North Coast and the Hunter were also the top destinations for international visitors to NSW, with 275,400 visits and 156,800 visits respectively.

Regional NSW received 694,400 international visitors who stayed 15.3 million nights and spent an estimated A$1.1 billion. The fastest-growing source markets for Asian visitors to regional NSW were India (up 15.8%) and Indonesia (up 116.5%).

Capella Sydney shares first birthday joy

 

Source: Capella Sydney. Capella Sydney celebrates its first birthday with an exclusive package that includes a A$365 hotel credit.

In celebration of its first birthday, Capella Sydney is offering an exclusive package which includes a A$365 hotel credit and breakfast for two guests. 

- Full daily breakfast at Brasserie 1930

- Guest-only access to The Living Room, a distinctive feature found in all Capella properties. The Living Room serves as a gathering space where guests can engage in daily Capella rituals and immerse themselves in Sydney’s culture surrounded by a curated collection of historic local artifacts and art.

- Non-alcoholic in-room beverages from the personal bar

- Access to the Fitness Centre and a 20-m indoor heated swimming pool

- Complimentary wireless Internet

A minimum four-night stay is required*, and the hotel credit should be used during the stay.

Originally erected as The Department of Education in 1912 and reborn as the Capella Hotel Group’s inaugural Australian hotel, Capella Sydney blends heritage and contemporary design, world-class accommodation and dining. 

To make a reservation call +61 2 9071 5090 or book online at capellahotels.com/Sydney. 

*The following terms and conditions apply: 

- Rate inclusions are valid for up to two adults only. 

- One-night non-refundable deposit inclusive of taxes is required at time of booking when reserving Prestige Suites. 

- The package is only valid for bookings with a minimum stay of four consecutive nights, and an early departure fee applies for shortened stays. Hotel credit may be applied towards all food and beverage experiences only, including in-room dining and Auriga Spa treatment services. 

- Hotel credit must be redeemed in full during the stay. 

- Applies to all guest rooms, suites and Prestige Suites.

Ocean Sentinel sculptures to be installed in the Great Barrier Reef in May

Source: MOUA. An Ocean Sentinel sculpture.

The Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) in Townsville, Queensland, is set to install Ocean Sentinel sculptures at the Great Barrier Reef in early May 2023, ahead of the tourist season. The installation is MOUA’s third art project installation within the Townsville region.

The eight Ocean Sentinel sculptures by by underwater sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor will form a snorkel trail for visitors to MOUA's current underwater installation, the Coral Greenhouse, at John Brewer Reef. The snorkel trail will highlight reef conservation, marine science and education within the Great Barrier Reef.

The Ocean Sentinel sculptures celebrate protectors of the Reef and are modelled after notable marine scientists, conservationists, and traditional owners, who have contributed and dedicated their life to the Great Barrier Reef. Each 2.8 tonne sculpture stands 2.2 m tall and will be in around 5 m of water. The sculptures are made of a new high-grade, low-carbon earth-friendly concrete and reinforced marine stainless steel.

Chair of the MOUA Board Paul Victory said: “We are thrilled to be able to contribute to the marine science story through what is predicted to be a highly sought-after snorkelling and diving experience at John Brewer Reef. The current installation, Coral Greenhouse is already on Australia’s must-do experience list and this new snorkelling experience will open new opportunities for visitors to Townsville and increase their knowledge of the science that has contributed to the incredible Great Barrier Reef.”

MOUA is the only underwater art museum in the Southern Hemisphere. It was created to inspire people throughout the world to visit the Townsville underwater sculpture site and to broaden the conversation about reef conservation.

Off-season travel demand grows between Australia and Southeast Asia

While July to September is considered a slow travel season for both Australia and Southeast Asia, Trip.com data shows that more people from these two regions are travelling during these months.

For Southeast Asian consumers based in tropical countries, it is the perfect time to visit a cooler destination like Australia, and vice versa. For Australian travellers, short-haul travel to Southeast Asia remains perennially popular, especially after travel restrictions were gradually eased in the area this year.

Trip.com's bookings data during June and July for the Asia Pacific region and Australia shows that trips to Australia are most popular among travellers from New Zealand, and also that flight bookings from Southeast Asia to Australia increased 35% between June and July, compared to Trip.com
booking data from April and May. Australia and New Zealand recently removed many of the travel restrictions that have been in place during the pandemic.

Those travelling to Australia this summer, included travellers from Indonesia in 2nd place, behind New Zealand, Singapore taking 3rd place and Thailand, 5th place.

Domestically, Trip.com data also highlighted a trend for Australia’s southern residents to visit Queensland in the north to enjoy warmer weather during the off-season, with Brisbane, Cairns, the Gold Coast and the Whitsundays all attracting local travellers.

Driven by the international travel market recovering in the first half of 2022, Trip.com data shows that more Australians are heading further north to escape the cold. Since April, the ratio of international bookings made on Trip.com Australia has continued to increase, from 42% of all bookings in March, rising to 63% in July.

Given the uncertainty of the pandemic, most Australian international travellers booking on Trip.com have chosen to travel short haul to Southeast Asia during winter this year. Flight bookings to the region increased by 97% in June and July compared to April and May. Countries such as Indonesia, India, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore all made it into the top 10 most popular destinations for Australian users during June and July, with Indonesia taking the top spot.

Trip.com recently partnered with Tourism Malaysia to offer Australian travellers exclusive deals on their next trip to the region, including return flights from A$488. Since the launch of the campaign, Trip.com has seen a 34% increase in flight bookings to the country.

Mutations of COVID-19 virus unlikely to affect existing vaccines

New research by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has shown potential vaccines should not be affected by how SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has changed to date.

Most vaccines under development worldwide have been modelled on the original ‘D-strain’ of the virus, which were more common amongst sequences published early in the pandemic. Since then, the virus has evolved such that the ‘G-strain’ is globally dominant. The G variant now accounts for about 85% of published SARS-CoV-2 genomes, CSIRO said.

There had been fears that the G-strain, or ‘D614G’ mutation within the main protein on the surface of the virus, would negatively impact on vaccines under development. Researchers have found no evidence to date that the change would adversely impact the efficacy of vaccine candidates.

Source: CSIRO. Biomolecular
modelling of the
COVID-19 spike protein.

Published today in npj Vaccines, the study tested blood samples from ferrets vaccinated with Inovio Pharmaceuticals’ INO-4800 candidate against virus strains that either possessed or lacked this ‘D614G’ mutation. 

The study was undertaken in parallel to the pre-clinical trial of INO-4800 at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), CSIRO’s high-containment biosecurity facility in Geelong, Victoria.

CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall said the research was critically important in the race to develop a vaccine. “This brings the world one step closer to a safe and effective vaccine to protect people and save lives,” Dr Marshall said.

"Research like this, at speed, is only possible through deep collaboration with partners both in Australia and around the world.

“We are tackling these challenges head-on, together, and delivering real world solutions from world-leading Australian science.”

Dr SS. Vasan, CSIRO’s Dangerous Pathogens Team Leader and the senior author of the paper, said this was good news for the hundreds of vaccines in development around the world, with the majority targeting the spike protein.

“Most COVID-19 vaccine candidates target the virus’ spike protein as this binds to the ACE2 receptors in our lungs and airways, which are the entry point to infect cells,” Dr Vasan said.

“Despite this ‘D614G’ mutation to the spike protein, we confirmed through experiments and modelling that vaccine candidates are still effective.

“We’ve also found the G-strain is unlikely to require frequent ‘vaccine matching’ where new vaccines need to be developed seasonally to combat the virus strains in circulation, as is the case with influenza.”

Dr Alex McAuley, CSIRO research scientist and first author of the paper, said ferrets vaccinated with INO-4800 demonstrated a strong immune response.

“We found that ferrets vaccinated with Inovio Pharmaceuticals’ candidate developed a good B-cell response in terms of neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 strains, which is important for the short-term efficacy of a vaccine,” Dr McAuley said.

“We are also studying the T-cell response which is important for long-term efficacy.”

The Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory provided a G-strain isolate from a patient sample to enable this study. The results of the study were further interpreted with biomolecular modelling conducted by CSIRO's digital specialist arm, Data61.

The modelling enabled the interactions between the vaccine and virus to be simulated and visualised, according to Dr Michael Kuiper, co-author and Team Leader of the Molecular & Materials Modelling Group at CSIRO’s Data61.

“If we understand the process of a viral infection, we paint a picture of its vulnerabilities. Biomolecular modelling helps us to do this,” Dr Kuiper said.

“By visualising molecular structure, we were able to support the study’s inference that the immune response generated by the vaccine candidate is equally effective against both D- and G- strains of SARS-CoV-2.”

CSIRO recently concluded preclinical studies for two vaccine candidates (from Inovio Pharmaceuticals and the University of Oxford) at the ACDP, with peer-reviewed reports to be published in the coming months.

Explore:

Read the paper.

Accor grows regional Queensland presence with Mercure Rockhampton

The Travelodge Hotel Rockhampton has been rebranded the Mercure Rockhampton, under a franchise agreement, Accor has announced. Mercure Rockhampton joins a network of over 50 Mercure properties across Australia and New Zealand and more than 810 worldwide.

Refurbished in 2008, Mercure Rockhampton is located in the heart of the city, just a short drive from the Rockhampton Airport. The eight-storey, 74-room resort overlooks the Fitzroy River and features six conference spaces, an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, 24-hour reception, and easy access to popular locations such as Great Keppel Island.

Source: Accor. A room at the Mercure Rockhampton.

Accor COO Pacific Simon McGrath welcomed Mercure Rockhampton to the Accor family. He said: "By joining Accor, Mercure Rockhampton now has access to the most talented team and resources available. There is no doubt the decade ahead will be one of the most competitive and challenging eras in the history of the Australian hotel industry. However, the uncertainty of recent times unequivocally highlights the benefits of our scale, as well as the market strength of our brands.”

Mercure Rockhampton GM Karley Beasy, said: “I am confident our well-appointed hotel will operate with great success under Accor and the Mercure brand’s internationally-renowned authentic, locally inspired service. With this partnership, we will continue to provide travellers with a quality accommodation and conferencing option in Rockhampton and now have the ability to leverage from Accor’s international branding, staff development opportunities, and highly valuable distribution and loyalty platform.”

Guests of Mercure Rockhampton are eligible to access privileges via Accor’s loyalty programme ALL, Accor Live Limitless - a daily lifestyle companion that integrates rewards, services and experiences. The programme is free to join and can be used across more than 5,000 hotels, resorts and residences across 110 countries.

Details:

Mercure Rockhampton
86 Victoria Parade
Rockhampton QLD 4700
Australia

New media intelligence platform launched in Singapore, Australia

Truescope, founded John Croll and Michael Bade, is set to challenge the media intelligence industry.


Launched in Singapore and Australia, the cloud-based platform is designed to inform communicators about breaking news as well as consumer sentiment, brand awareness, campaign performance, and customer experience in real time. The technology analyses millions of social and mainstream media stories using machine learning and natural language processing, determining sentiment, potential effects on brand reputation and contributing to measures for brand awareness and communications effectiveness.

"We think our approach to people, product and scalability is revolutionary in this space, and we all have the unequivocal mindset that the client experience is central to everything we do. We're ready to build bridges between new technologies and the communications industry so our clients can immediately understand the value Truescope brings and see how different we are to what has come before us," said Croll.

As part of its expansion across Asia-Pacific, Truescope has partnered with Dataxet, a data intelligence company. Truescope has also secured official partnerships with Twitter and major publishers.

David Liu, Founder of Dataxet said, "Truescope will be a great opportunity for us to champion smarter media intelligence for brands, using Singapore as a strategic launch pad."

Jason Lee, Managing Partner of Dataxet and CEO of Truescope Singapore shared, "The future of media intelligence goes beyond traditional clippings or collation of brand mentions. Smart media intelligence provides critical objective insights about a brand or organisation in the media that can be accurately and rapidly delivered to C-suites and management in order to be fed back into brand strategy, positioning and product development. Combine media intelligence with internal brand data such as sales, revenue and CRM data, and you start closing the ROI loop in your marketing and communications efforts."

CRM stands for customer relationship management; ROI for return on investment.

Vivid Sydney begins taking shape two weeks ahead of Lights On

Light installations are beginning to be installed throughout the Harbour City in preparation for the upcoming launch of Vivid Sydney, the largest festival of light, music and ideas in the southern hemisphere.

Source: Vivid Sydney. An artist's impression by Andrew Thomas Huang & Bemo on the Austral Floral Ballet, part of Vivid Light 2019. 

Lights On is scheduled for 24 May on 50+ light features and projections.

“For 23 days, Vivid Sydney transforms the city of Sydney into a mesmerising kaleidoscope of colour with awe-inspiring light sculptures and large-scale projections. It really is a world-class event that has to be seen in person,” Destination NSW CEO and Executive Producer – Vivid Sydney Sandra Chipchase said.

“This year, there are more ways to experience the festival than ever before, whether it’s from the water of our stunning harbour, high above the city or even whirling around on a theme park ride.”

There is still time for visitors to book tick for popular Vivid Music and Vivid Ideas events, and guests are encouraged to explore unique aspects of the festival as well as the famous 3 km Light Walk.

One way to see Vivid Sydney is at restaurants with harbour views. O Bar & Dining is a revolving restaurant that boasts 360-degree views from 47 stories up. Blu Bar on 36 at Shangri-La Sydney has views of the entire harbour, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House as does Club InterContinental, the rooftop bar and Executive Club Lounge at the Intercontinental Sydney, available to guests.

The Samsung Electric Playground also offers some of the best vantage points to take in Vivid Sydney. Samsung’s Electric Playground – a technology-enabled playground celebrating light, sound and imagination - and the Samsung Galaxy Studio are  immersive, interactive spaces which use mobile technology to enhance the Vivid Sydney experience.

Several specially curated spots will give visitors an alternate view of Circular Quay, whether from the top of the 6.5 m Infinity Slide or the Samsung Sky Walk.

The Samsung Electric Playground has over 20 Galaxy S10 handsets set up throughout the experience, pre-curated by experts to capture the Vivid Sydney memories – even in super-low light conditions.

Taronga Zoo Sydney has put up safari-style overnight tents, part of the Roar and Snore programme. This allows guests to experience harbour views combined with overnight animal encounters.

Then there are the see-through Igloos on the Pier at Pier One Sydney Harbour. These can be hired for a few hours with catering, or for the night so occupants literally sleep under the stars.

Festival visitors can also catch a Sydney Ferry or go for a Vivid Sydney cruise package such as a two-hour cruise that goes past Fort Denison and includes an aboriginal cultural performance for A$35, or a 90-minute catamaran cruise for A$49.

Sydney HeliTours tours of the harbour are available to get the ultimate views, with the observation deck at Sydney Tower Eye the next best thing.

Visitors can further enjoy Vivid Sydney at Chatswood. There is a Light Bazaar, a Cascading Harp, a six-metre tall sculpture of the world and projections that create an interactive show between shadow and light.

Luna Park comes into its own during Vivid Sydney. The amusement park has a new ride, Volaré. The largest waveswinger in Australia, Volaré is a ride inspired by flying chairs and is lit by thousands of LED lights to complement the festival.

American Express cardmembers can enjoy exclusive access to the American Express Lounge located at the Cruise Bar Rooftop on Level 3 of the Overseas Passenger Terminal, which has uninterrupted views of Circular Quay and the Sydney Opera House. Non-cardmembers are welcome after 8 pm, but must register online.

Australian Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres said, “Anticipation is building for the 11th annual Vivid Sydney and now there are just two weeks until the magic moment of Lights On."

He added, “The interest in Vivid Sydney has grown at an exponential rate. In 2011 there were less than 500,000 attendees – the NSW Liberal Government has facilitated a 370% rise in visitors to the festival."

Details:

Vivid Sydney will run from 24 May to 15 June throughout Sydney, Australia. Obtain tickets, maps and guides at vividsydney.com

First Hyde outside of the US will be in the Gold Coast, Australia

Accor has chosen Australia as the first Asia Pacific market to expand its partnership with sbe outside of the US. Its luxury lifestyle hospitality brand, Hyde is coming to the Gold Coast in Queensland in March 2019. Hyde Paradiso is inspired by Los Angeles' famous Sunset Strip. The venue will open all day and evolve into an evening lounge and dining experience.

Simon McGrath, COO, Accor Pacific said: “Our partnership with sbe and its Founder and CEO Sam Nazarian will combine the best of both our worlds to provide unparalleled lifestyle experiences for our guests. Hyde Paradiso will be a game changer for the Gold Coast, which is befitting of a sophisticated and energetic venue which will become the place to see and be seen by the sea.”

Sam Nazarian, Founder and CEO of sbe said: “Australia is such a welcoming, youthful, and dynamic market full of growth opportunities for our brands, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to launch Hyde on the Gold Coast. The sbe portfolio will grow to over 50 hotels by 2020, paired with tremendous expansion in the residential, culinary and entertainment venues, including over 150 global venues in the pipeline. We look forward to bringing more of our brands, dining and entertainment experiences to Australia and across the globe with Accor in the future.”

Hyde Hotels and Residences will also expand into the Middle East, with an opening in Doha come 2020.

Sbe's hospitality and residential brands include SLS, Delano, Mondrian, Hyde, The House of Originals (Sanderson, St. Martin Lane, 10 Karakoy and Shore Club) and The Redbury Hotels.

Cross-country 5G video calls with augmented reality shown to work

Source: Singtel. An Optus engineer at Optus’ live 5G site in Sydney, Australia uses a OPPO 5G test device during a 5G AR video call to Singtel engineers in Singapore.

Singtel, Optus and Ericsson have shown the shape of things to come after completing a successful end-to-end 5G video call with augmented reality (AR) between Singapore and Australia.

Made with OPPO 5G test devices equipped with Qualcomm 5G modems on 5G networks in both countries, this call shows that AR can be successfully used on a real-time 5G video call using Ericsson’s networks. Engineers made instant on-screen annotations to exchange views on their respective live 5G sites.

 AR provides users with a more inclusive form of communication, opening up new possibilities for enterprises, ranging from mobile collaboration between experts in different locations, on-the-job training to remote assistance. Examples of consumer use cases will include immersive gaming, virtual tactile shopping and holographic calls.

Allen Lew, CEO, Optus said, “Once again Optus has proven our 5G agility, working collaboratively with our colleagues in Singapore to successfully land a ground-breaking 5G inter-country AR video call. Just last month we achieved another first, with the launch of our plans for our 5G Home Broadband product for Australian consumers and today’s announcement is another step in our commitment to lead 5G delivery in Australia.”

Mark Chong, Group CTO, Singtel, said: “This call is a significant marker in our journey to 5G as we develop a robust 5G ecosystem to ensure that our enterprise and consumer customers will enjoy an enhanced connectivity experience. 5G is a key enabler that will bring the future of AR, autonomous vehicles and smart cities closer to reality.”

Martin Wiktorin, Country Head, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines, Ericsson added: "The success of this video call using 5G test devices and AR in a multiparty environment, brings us a step closer to having our mobile broadband experience transformed with a mere click. With the establishment of 5G connectivity on smartphones soon becoming a reality, consumers and enterprises will be able to unleash the full potential of 5G by integrating this new technology into their daily lives and operations.”

Peter Huang, President of OPPO APAC added: “Once again, OPPO has pushed the boundaries of what is possible in a smartphone. The call is another 5G first for OPPO, and demonstrates our commitment to become one of, if not the first manufacturer to commercialise a 5G smartphone.”

According to Ericsson’s Towards a 5G consumer future – Consumer and Industry Insight report 2018, the idea of 5G services appeals to 76% of smartphone users consulted for the survey. In fact, over one-third of users expect 5G to offer capabilities beyond speed and network coverage. This refers to improvements such as better battery life for devices, reliability, guaranteed quality of service as well as the ability to extend connectivity beyond devices to include the Internet of Things (IoT).

It's Lights On! every night in Sydney for Vivid Sydney

Source: Destination NSW. Vivid Sydney in action.

The lights have been switched on for the 10th Vivid Sydney, the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas. Australia’s largest event transforms the city into a colourful showcase of illumination, sensational sounds and creative thinking.

The Lights On moment, marking the start of the festival, saw all eyes turn to the Sydney Opera House for the Lighting of the Sails, created this year by Australian artist Jonathan Zawada. The performance featured fantastical digital sculptures of everyday objects and natural specimens that evolve, dissolve, and metamorphose.

This year the lights shine bright each night at nine precincts across Sydney including Barangaroo, Chatswood, Circular Quay, The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Kings Cross, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Taronga Zoo and for the first time, Luna Park.

New South Wales (NSW) Premier Gladys Berejiklian said at the launch, “It’s always such a great feeling to see the city light up in a spectacular symphony of colour and movement, and we can’t wait to see all the moments that will excite and delight visitors who are coming to enjoy Vivid Sydney’s 10th anniversary celebrations over the next 23 days and nights.”

NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said Vivid Sydney was an opportunity to showcase not only Sydney, but the entire state. “Vivid Sydney is more than just a captivating light, music and ideas festival – it drives our economy, attracting hundreds of thousands of overnight visitors to our State,” Marshall said.

“Nearly 38,000 visitors to Vivid Sydney last year chose to extend their stay in NSW and travel beyond the fringes of Sydney, staying more than 94,000 nights and injecting over A$16 million into the State’s regional economy.

“The NSW government has worked hard to ensure NSW is the tourism and events capital of Australia and Vivid Sydney showcases our global city to the world, reinforcing Sydney’s position as the home of creativity, culture and innovation.”

Creative Director for Vivid Sydney Ignatius Jones added, “Vivid Sydney is all about art meeting technology and throwing in a little magic on top of it all to entertain visitors. This year the creative visions of local and international artists have been brought to life as large-scale and interactive installations and projections that transform iconic buildings, landmarks and landscapes; from the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, to the natural canvases at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and Darling Harbour. We invite everyone to join our colourful celebration of creativity and community.”

Highlights for this year’s event include:

Light

It’s Lights On at 6 pm each night (5.30 pm at Chatswood and Taronga Zoo), as Sydney’s architecture and open spaces become the canvases for mesmerising art projections and interactive installations.

· Zawada transforms the Sydney Opera House sails into Metamathemagical, a series of kinetic digital sculptures using imagery inspired by the Australian environment.

· For the first time, Vivid Sydney includes Luna Park as a precinct, where grand light show, Spirit of Fun on Coney Island, and the Ferris Wheel will give visitors a front row seat to some of the best views of Sydney Harbour aglow.

· May Gibbs’ beloved characters Snugglepot and Cuddlepie celebrate their 100th anniversary on the façade of Customs House with a joyous adventure through the Australian bush.

· Barangaroo will host a 6 m luminescent creature venturing along the waterfront and interacting with visitors in The Liminal Hour, a theatrical display of light and sound.

· Lights for the Wild returns better than ever at Taronga Zoo, where an adventure through jungle, bush and ocean habitats awaits. New additions join festival favourites, including PJ the 20 metre Port Jackson shark, an epic 9 m goanna, a sea dragon and redback spiders.

Music

The music programme will provide a soundtrack to the festival with a lineup of some of the world’s best local and international contemporary artists taking to stages throughout the city. Highlights include:

· Young Australian singing sensation Ruel, will take to the stage of Sydney’s iconic Metro Theatre for his first-ever solo headline performance on 16 June. This performance is already sold out.

· The soundtrack of Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet will be brought to life when masquerade-ball-rock-show Young Hearts Run Free revs up the Enmore Theatre on 7 June.

· Orange is the New Black’s Big Boo, Lea DeLaria, brings her musical comedy, jazz interpretation show to the City Recital Hall on 9 June as part of the Vivid Jazz series.

· Vivid LIVE takes over the Sydney Opera House again with a celebration of ambitious and innovative contemporary music. The World Heritage-listed stages will welcome international icons like Solange and Ice Cube as well as DREAMS, the electropop collaboration between former Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns and Empire of the Sun’s Luke Steele on 29 and 30 May. Californian dream pop cult duo Mazzy Star’s Australian debut from 11-13 June will close out Vivid LIVE with their trademark psychedelic-tinged guitar and charming vocals.

Ideas

Australia’s most thought-provoking conversations are on the agenda with groundbreakers from technology, science, art, design and culture gathering to explore new ideas and cultivate fresh thinking through forums and workshops. James Cameron headlines the programme this year and will speak in front of a sold out crowd. Highlights not to miss include:

· Futurist and game developer, Jane McGonigal and artificial intelligence (AI) expert Kriti Sharma team up on 3 June to discuss what kind of society are we creating with technology as they delve into the latest in AI, virtual reality and gaming.

· Visual strategist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and co-founder of the Museum of Awe, Dan Goods explores the interplay between art and science that has seen his work shown in museums and in outer-space on 3 June.

· Pioneering environmental activists, surfing and skateboarding icon Peggy Oki, and marine biologist and model Laura Wells, will talk on 6 June about protecting the oceans in the war on plastic, and how you can become an agent of change by turning passion into action.

· What will our lives be like when we coexist with digital humans? An expert panel will join a computer generated digital person on stage to examine the ethical and societal implications of life with digital artificial humans in Mummy, can I Marry my Avatar? on 16 June.

The festival is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the New South Wales government’s tourism and major events agency. In 2017 Vivid Sydney attracted a record 2.33 million attendees and injected over A$143 million into NSW’s visitor economy.

Details:

Vivid Sydney runs from 25 May to 16 June 2018. For more festival details check online or download the mobile app on iOS or Android. There is  a new augmented reality experience in the app, including access to a hidden art gallery at Fitzroy Gardens in Kings Cross.

Hashtags: #vividsydney, #vividmusic, #vividideas, #ilovesydney

Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders reopens

Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders has completed the refurbishment of all its guest rooms, bathrooms and suites, giving travellers to the city a fresh hotel experience in the heart of the city.

Source: Holiday Inn website. The Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders.

Each room was completely gutted to create a blank canvas for the architect to design a room with the modern traveller in mind. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the striking new interiors, with electronically-switched block out blinds which can be controlled by the bedside.

The bathroom, luggage rack and wardrobe have been purposely designed outside the bedroom space, giving guests more of a 'living room' feeling while relaxing on new Holiday Inn pillowtop beds. Large HD TVs have been integrated into a stylish wall panel with HDMI and USB connectivity, allowing travellers to connect with free Wi-Fi to their favourite digital content.

The new bathrooms have been completely renovated and now feature large showers and an opaque window into the bedroom that means the bathroom is flooded with natural light. The stone vanity countertops offer plenty of space and all fittings are water conserving, ensuring that the hotel continues to minimise the impact on the environment through the IHG Green Engage™ system.

The hotel enlisted architects Wilson & Hill of New Zealand, to reinvent each hotel room and add seven additional, bringing the room count to 209.

David Hill, Director of New Zealand architect firm Wilson & Hill said, “The refurbishment of the existing rooms provided an opportunity to create modern hotel rooms and corridors containing up-to-date features and fittings. The materials, finishes and colours create a contemporary Melbourne interior with a high level of quality.”

Garry Beadel, Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders Hotel Manager believes it has set a new standard of hotel in Melbourne. He says: “The hotel offers a new and fresh experience to our guests. We know that everyone will enjoy our modern rooms and stunning bathrooms, no matter if they are travelling for business or leisure.”

Located on Flinders Lane in the Melbourne CBD, the hotel looks forward to launching the new conference and event space in Q218.

Details:

Book the Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders

Australians are concerned about sugar in carbonated soft drinks

The carbonated soft drink (CSD) sector in Australia is facing continued pressure amid consumer concerns about sugar, says global market intelligence agency Mintel.

According to Mintel total volume sales of Australia’s CSD category are expected to see a 2.3% decline in 2017. CSD sales have dipped 4.7% in 2016 since 2014.

Mintel research indicates that negative sentiments towards sugar have driven many Australians to reconsider their sugar intake. One in three (34%) metro Australian consumers* say that they are limiting the amount of sugar/sugar substitutes in their diets, while three in 10 (29%) are avoiding items with sweeteners. Furthermore, as many as three in five (58%) Australians say they are limiting their consumption of sugar and sugar substitutes in an effort to to watch their weight, while over half (53%) do so because of future health concerns, such as developing diabetes.

Jenny Zegler, Global Food & Drink Analyst at Mintel, said: “With concerns about obesity rates and overall health in Australia, many consumers are now focusing on sugar and sweetener content when choosing food and drink, with some limiting the amount of sugar or sweeteners in their diets. These concerns have especially taken a toll on Australia’s carbonated soft drinks category, which is forecast to see further sales declines by the end of 2017. Carbonated soft drink companies that seek to reconnect with consumers must take into account that concerns about sugar and sweeteners will continue to be a focal point for consumers moving forward.”

Over a third of (35%) metro Australians say that they check for the level of sugar/sweetener content in CSDs and 30% check for the types of sugar/sweeteners. More than three in five (64%) metro Australians say they feel cheated when a company is not clear about the high sugar content of its products. Three in four (76%) agree that food and drink companies should make it easier to understand how much sugar is in their products.

Shelley McMillan, Trend & Innovation Consultant, ANZ, at Mintel said: “Our research points to the necessity for simple and direct communication to reassure Australian consumers who are wary of their sugar consumption. To avoid consumer confusion or concern, products could define the amount and type of sugar or sweeteners on product labelling to ensure that consumers can easily understand the sugar content of food and drink. Currently, the provision of front-of-pack sugar descriptions by carbonated soft drink companies are few and far between. This challenges more companies to be transparent in their claims.”

Meanwhile, even though consumers are looking for reduced sugar products, industry innovation does not necessarily align with interest. According to the Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD), ‘low/no/reduced sugar’ is a claim carried by just 12% of CSD product launches in Australia in the two years to October 2017**. This is just below the already-low global average of 15% of CSD introductions launched globally in the same time period.

Finally, Mintel research shows that consumers think that manufacturers could be more aggressive in creating reduced-sugar formulations, with three in four (74%) metro Australians agreeing that food and drink companies should be doing more to reduce the amount of sugar in their products.

“Though there is a demand for reduced sugar food and drink products, companies are not doing enough when it comes to new product development. In fact, our research indicates that there is a definite opportunity for players in the carbonated soft drink industry to introduce more low, no or reduced sugar offerings into the Australian market. Another key way of enticing consumers to stay engaged with the category is for CSD brands to consider developing low, no or reduced sugar limited-edition flavour offerings,” Zegler concluded.

*1,406 internet users aged 18+ from major metropolitan cities in Australia, polled in 2017.

**November 2015 to October 2017.

Australia pledges to work internationally to reduce cybercrime

Australia has launched a new International Cyber Engagement Strategy outlining its cyber affairs agenda for the next three years as part of the deliverables of the government's A$230 million Cyber Security Strategy.

Underscored by private sector partnerships the strategy aims to create an environment for digital trade to generate economic growth and opportunities for Australia and Australians while mitigating the risks. It also charts a path to use digital technologies to drive sustainable and inclusive development in the Indo-Pacific region.

The government will allocate an additional A$10 million to the Cyber Cooperation Program to support implementation of the strategy. A$4 million was provided last year.

According to the government, most cybercrime affecting Australians originates overseas, driving Australia to engage internationally to shut down cybercrime safe havens. The strategy aims to foster good cyber security practices in the region and improve regional capacity to respond to global cyber incidents.

"We encourage all Australians to read the International Cyber Engagement Strategy and to recognise the breadth of benefits a stable and secure cyberspace can bring to personal, business, community and international wellbeing," said the Honourable Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Honourable Dan Tehan MP, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cyber Security, in a joint statement.

The strategy outlines an approach across seven key themes: digital trade, cybersecurity, cybercrime, international security, Internet governance & cooperation, human rights & democracy online, and technology for development, plus coordinated cyber affairs. A Foreign Policy White Paper, currently under development, will reiterate how cyber issues affect Australia's foreign policy. Specifically:

Source: Australia International Cyber Engagement Strategy website. The key themes for the International Cyber Engagement Strategy.

Digital trade

Australia aims to maximise the opportunity for economic growth and prosperity through digital trade. The country will:

- Shape an enabling environment for digital trade, including through trade agreements, harmonisation of standards, and implementation of trade facilitation measures

- Promote trade and investment opportunities for Australian digital goods and services

Cybersecurity

Here, Australia is aiming for a strong and resilient cyber security posture not only for Australia but also for the Indo-Pacific and the global community. The country will:

- Maintain strong cybersecurity relationships with international partners

- Encourage innovative cybersecurity solutions and deliver world leading cybersecurity advice

- Develop regional cybersecurity capability

- Promote Australia's cybersecurity industry

Cybercrime

Australia wants to achieve stronger cybercrime prevention, prosecution and cooperation, with a particular focus on the Indo-Pacific. The country will:

- Raise cybercrime awareness in the Indo-Pacific

- Assist Indo-Pacific countries to strengthen their cybercrime legislation

- Deliver cybercrime law enforcement and prosecution capacity building in the Indo-Pacific

- Enhance diplomatic dialogue and international information sharing on cybercrime

International security

The goal is for a stable, peaceful online environment. The country will:

- Set clear expectations for state behaviour in cyberspace

- Implement practical confidence building measures to prevent conflict

- Deter and respond to unacceptable behaviour in cyberspace

Internet governance & cooperation

Australia will work towards an open, free and secure Internet, achieved through a multi-stakeholder approach to Internet governance and cooperation. The country will:

- Advocate for a multi-stakeholder approach to Internet governance that is inclusive, consensus-based, transparent and accountable

- Oppose efforts to bring the management of the Internet under government control

- Raise awareness across the Indo-Pacific of Internet governance issues and encourage engagement of regional partners in Internet governance and cooperation discussions

Human rights & democracy online

Australia states that human rights apply online, as they do offline. The country will:

- Advocate for the protection of human rights and democratic principles online

- Support international efforts to promote and protect human rights online

- Ensure respect for and protection of human rights and democratic principles online in all Australian aid projects with digital technology components

Technology for development

The priority will be to use digital technologies to achieve sustainable development and inclusive economic growth in the Indo-Pacific. The country will:

- Improve connectivity and access to the Internet across the Indo-Pacific, in collaboration with international organisations, regional governments and the private sector

- Encourage the use of resilient development-enabling technologies for e‑governance and the digital delivery of services

- Support entrepreneurship, digital skills and integration into the global marketplace

Comprehensive & coordinated cyber affairs

To keep to this agenda Australia will:

- Enhance understanding of Australia's comprehensive cyber affairs agenda

- Increase funding for Australia's international cyber engagement activities

- Coordinate and prioritise Australia's international cyber engagement activities


"Our international cyber engagement protects Australians and promotes our interests. It positions us to harness opportunities and increase our cyber resilience. An open, free and secure Internet drives economic growth, enhances our national security and fosters international stability," said Bishop in a foreword to the strategy.

Palo Alto Networks, the security company, announced that it will support the capacity-building efforts of Australia’s International Cyber Engagement Strategy with new business engagement initiatives businesses in the region. The project aims to raise the understanding of cybersecurity as a business risk within C-suites in ASEAN countries.

"You will note throughout this strategy that partnership is the watchword. The Australian government appreciates that, to deliver on our ambition to increase regional cyber capacity, we need innovative partnerships with the private sector.

"Palo Alto Networks will conduct technical and other cybersecurity training for ASEAN businesses in partnership with industry and this will complement the initiative to translate our very own Australian Signals Directorate’s world-leading, ‘Essential Eight mitigation strategies’," said Bishop.

"In order for the market to reach its full potential, we must combat cybercrime and help close digital divides in the region. This is a joint effort, requiring businesses and governments to share information and collaborate. That’s why Australia’s new international Cyber Engagement Strategy emphasises partnering with the private sector, and companies like Palo Alto Networks, who are at the frontline of helping businesses understand and mitigate the cyberthreats they face," said Dr Tobias Feakin, the first Australian Ambassador for Cyber Affairs.

"Cybersecurity is a culture that every organisation needs to build, strengthen and foster across all levels of the business. It is essential that leaders ensure cyber risk is considered among their organisation’s overall risk management strategy. Palo Alto Networks aims to educate and empower business leaders to make informed decisions on managing cyber risks so that they can run their organisations securely while preventing material impact to them from successful cyberattacks," added Sean Duca, VP and Chief Security Officer, APAC, Palo Alto Networks.

Spending more time with family is the top aspiration of urban Australians

With the technology boom providing more ways than ever for people to occupy their free time, across Australia, close to two in five (38%) Australians hope to achieve a better work-life balance in the coming year, says global market intelligence agency Mintel.

According to new research from Mintel, over half (51%) of metro consumers in Australia aspire to spend more time with their family over the coming year*, rising to 60% of metro Australians with three or more family members in the household. This makes spending more time with family the leading personal goal of today’s Australians.

Metro Australians also wish to have healthier diets (48%), to exercise more (47%), and to get their household finances in order (43%) – rounding out Australian consumers’ list of the top five personal goals for the coming year.

Jane Barnett, Head of Insights, South APAC at Mintel, said: “New technology has created inescapable levels of connectivity and exposure, and it seems Australians are losing touch with the physical world. Today’s fast-paced environment has resulted in Australians spending less time with their families – a social issue that they are now looking to tackle.

"Technology has revolutionised the way people live, and in many aspects, has played a major role in the speed up of life. Consumers’ heavy reliance on technology has caused a reduction in quality time spent with loved ones, even in the home environment. They are now looking to ‘switch off’ and have the chance to reconnect with the physical world.”

Over four in five (82%) metro Australians own a smartphone, while over half (56%) say they own a notepad or tablet PC. Females appear to be heavier users of mobile technology in comparison to males, as 83% of metro Australian females own a smartphone, while 79% of males own the device. In addition, 59% of female Australians own a notepad or tablet PC, compared to 51% of males who claim the same.

Reflecting a shift in activity types among Australian consumers, Mintel research reveals one in three (33%) metro Australians have spent less on leisure or entertainment activities, such as movies, clubs, concerts, or theatres, compared to a year ago**. What’s more, 31% of metro Australians say it is not a priority for them to go out more in the coming year*.

“There are opportunities for more initiatives that encourage consumers to put down their devices and interact with those around them, in order to help them feel like they are sharing quality time with their family. Today, brands are challenged to encourage interaction more effectively. Our research indicates that an ease of access to in-home entertainment could be a key contributor in supporting this.

"Brands need to look at how their products can fit into the in-home activity space, as well as bring a sense of connection. Products that can be shared across the family and brands with strong family heritage are perfectly aligned to play on this consumer need. For brands looking to cultivate a loyal community of consumers, it is important to remember that behind the device, the handle, the email address, or profile picture, there is a person – start with what matters most to them,” Barnett advised.

Interested?

Mintel's Australia Consumer Market Study 2017 report costs A$6,674.

*From 2016 to 2017
**2016 compared to 2015

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