Top Australian tech and business news highlights from the week of September 22–27, 2025, covering key developments in innovation, startups, finance, and government actions.
Technology and AI
- A Gold Coast man became the first in Australia to receive a hefty $340,000 court fine for posting deepfake images of prominent Australian women, a landmark under the Online Safety Act. This case is being seen as a significant precedent in combating online image-based abuse.
- Teradata released new AI agent tools, reflecting the trend of global enterprise vendors expanding AI capabilities in Australia.
- Check Point Software and Cloudflare both announced expansions of their Australian operations, aligning with increased local demand for cyber and cloud security.
Business and Financial Sector
- Donald Trump’s new tariffs on pharmaceutical exports to the US caused significant concern for Australia’s $2.2 billion pharma export sector, especially affecting major players like CSL. The Australian government is working to assess the implications and protect affected companies.
- ASIC released a critical report on the private credit market in Australia, emphasizing the regulator’s focus on the growing role of private credit in corporate funding and the need for transparency and risk management in the sector.
- Fortescue Metals announced deals to purchase 400 zero-emission haul trucks from Chinese green technology firms and acquire a Spanish renewables company, underlining Australia’s mining sector push into clean tech and renewables.
Startup and Innovation Scene
- Canva acquired the AI startup MagicBrief for $22.5 million to strengthen its artificial intelligence and content automation capabilities. The deal is seen as part of Canva’s preparation for a future IPO.
- Venture capital activity stayed strong, with several funds like Airtree and Blackbird Ventures reporting robust performance and engaging in new tech investments.
- The Techstars Sydney Accelerator’s new cohort highlighted six notable startups, including Onsite (proptech for strata living) and Our Leg Up (real estate equity unlocking platform), signaling ongoing innovation in proptech and fintech.
Policy and Society
- Discussions continued around copyright reforms to enable AI training while protecting the livelihoods of creators. The Tech Council of Australia and the Australian Council of Trade Unions advanced proposals for a balanced “path forward” on AI and copyright protection.
- Digital safety and IP issues featured strongly, including high-profile legal action on deepfakes and new partnerships in cloud and cybersecurity.
These stories illustrate key trends: Australia’s commitment to tech innovation, deepening reliance on AI and cloud, increased legal scrutiny on digital conduct, and the financial sector’s evolving landscape—each with broad implications for both startups and established enterprises