Hitting the brakes on EV, hybrid help could slow cuts
Removing tax breaks for plug-in hybrid vehicles is stalling their adoption, a group warns, and a lack of incentives could slow efforts to cut car emissions.
consumers
Aussies urged to charge ahead with household batteries
Australia could unlock billions in electricity savings if more households add a battery to their solar panel plans, a report has found.
EV myths drive Aussies wrong way down electric avenue
One third of Australians believe misinformation circulating about electric vehicles, a study has found, with a conspiracy mindset most often to blame.
Apple says competition changes could open door to scams
A US tech giant has rejected proposed changes to Australia's digital competition rules, saying some could put consumers and app developers at risk.
YouTube, Meta, TikTok reveal misinformation tidal wave
More than 25,000 Australian videos featuring misinformation have been removed from YouTube and TikTok as tech giants turn to AI tools to identify issues.
Strip clubs to education hubs hacked in password grab
Online criminals have compromised thousands of websites, including those of Australian businesses, in an attempt to steal users' passwords.
Telco partnership opens AI-powered search to the masses
Artificial intelligence technology use could rise in Australia after a major telecommunications provider teamed with an AI-powered search engine.
Why the carbon offset ‘swear jar’ needs an overhaul
Firms relying on carbon offsets to tout their green credentials and reduce their environmental footprints are under fresh scrutiny after a court settlement.
Carbon offsets set aside following greenwashing lawsuit
EnergyAustralia has pledged to back away from the use of carbon offsets to deal with emissions, in a statement following a legal settlement.
More households want to go full electric but lack spark
Millions more Australian households plan to cut gas and go all-electric but many say they need more information and guidance to do so.
Parent group challenges energy giant over carbon claims
EnergyAustralia will face the Federal Court to answer allegations some of its "carbon neutral" products were not as green as they seemed.
Election expected to drive confidence in electric cars
Australia's transition to low-emission vehicles could speed up after the election, experts say, fuelled by ongoing tax cuts and emission limits.
AI in every room: why home appliances are getting smart
From robotic vacuum cleaners that wake when you sleep to washing machines that judge dirt on your clothes, experts say home electronics are getting an AI boost.
Is it down? Strict rules for telcos that suffer outages
Phone and internet users will be given more details when their services drop out under rules imposed on telecommunication providers.
Drivers could pay more tax after electric car U-turn
Australian drivers and employers could miss out on thousands of dollars in tax savings if the coalition puts the brakes on an electric vehicle policy.
Call for workplace change to drive electric car take-up
Fewer than one-in-three electric vehicle drivers can access a charger at work and incentives could get more people to go electric and drive to the office.
Insurer profits boom to $6.1b after steep premium hikes
Insurance companies have collectively banked $6.1 billion in annual profit after raising premiums and facing fewer significant weather events.
Some hybrid cars thirstier than their petrol peers
On-road vehicle tests show some hybrid vehicles are not saving as much petrol as lab tests promise and a two use more than standard cars on highways.
‘No more bills’: why batteries may change energy market
Helping more households capture solar power in a battery could have a market-wide impact, although some could miss out on the biggest savings.
Electric cars to rev up the energy grid, one at a time
Technology that will let drivers use their electric vehicles as giant household batteries is launching in Australia, although its reach is limited.
Refunds for flyers after airline’s overpricing error
More than 60,000 people who booked flights in Australia in the last five years are set to be offered a partial refund after they were overcharged.
Aussies worry about harmful deepfakes but share anyway
Most Australian voters say they are seeing more political deepfakes online and want regulation, but some share suspect content without checking.
Car sales accelerate, with hybrids leading the charge
More drivers are getting behind the wheel of a new car but preferences are changing, with hybrids speeding up and petrol cars slowing down.
Will Tesla’s problems crash Australia’s electric dream?
The brand that has long led Australia's electric vehicle charge is falling out of favour. Can the nation's move to low-emission transport go on regardless?
Hitting the brakes: hybrid sales clouded by tax cut end
A tax concession for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles has come to the end of the road and experts say it could affect future car sales and emissions.
Hearing aids to heart monitors: tech is going healthy
More consumer technology is being approved for medical use in Australia, from earbuds that work as hearing aids to smartwatches that test for heart problems.
Call for household battery help to plug energy concerns
Cutting the price of solar batteries would lower household bills while easing pressure on the energy network, say groups pushing for a national scheme.
Indigenous lands to be put on the map in Australia
Aboriginal place names, protected lands and reserves will be shown on mapping, weather and other apps in Australia as the result of a four-year project.
Watchdog unveils plan to end supermarket shrinkflation
The competition watchdog has resisted calls for powers to break up major supermarkets in a report, while calling for more transparency to tackle price-gouging.
Coles, Woolies guilty of increasing margins: watchdog
Treasurer Jim Chalmers promised a crackdown on major supermarkets following a consumer watchdog report, but warned breaking them up would be counterproductive.
Tesla Cybertruck named the hero of motor show comeback
It is large, futuristic and not ready to drive on Australian roads but Tesla's Cybertruck will be the centrepiece of the first Melbourne motor show in 15 years.