NSW public primary schools will stop asking parents to buy laptops
From 2027, no NSW public primary school will require students to bring their own laptop or tablet. Screen-time limits by year level start too.
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News, explainers and practical guides for Australian life and work. Newest first.
Showing 1–12 of 193 stories and guides, newest first
This week
Paying the ATO by card: fees, deadlines and the alternatives
You can pay the ATO by credit card with no card fee until 30 June 2027. What changes after that, how payment plans are affected and the other ways to pay.
What Microsoft 365 business plans have cost in Australia since 2020
Business Basic has gone from $6.90 to $10.50 a user a month since 2020. Microsoft’s own Australian price pages track each rise, and what’s next.
How to stop AI companies training on your website
Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta and Cloudflare each give you a way to refuse AI training. What each setting does, and what it costs you in search.
Spot the scam: the tax refund text from the ‘ATO’ or ‘myGov’
A text says a tax refund is waiting and you just need to tap the link. Here are the warning signs the ATO and myGov list, how to check safely, and what to do if you clicked.
Black Friday: how to tell if a tech discount is real
A big ‘was’ price, a ticking timer and an ‘up to’ banner don’t prove a bargain. Here’s what the ACCC says a genuine discount looks like, and the checks to run before you pay.
Bose is recalling S1 Pro speaker battery packs over a fire risk
Some battery packs for Bose’s S1 Pro and S1 Pro+ portable PA speakers can overheat and catch fire. Here’s how to check yours and get a free replacement.
Buying and selling scams are six in 10 scam-loss reports to Scamwatch
Scams on buyers and sellers, from fake shops to fake ‘item sold’ messages, made up 58.7% of Scamwatch loss reports this year. Here’s what they look like.
How Wi-Fi calling turns your home internet into a phone tower
Wi-Fi calling carries normal mobile calls over your internet when the signal drops out. How it works, what it costs, and what changes when you call 000.
A long password lets attackers into some Alpine Linux servers
A decade-old bug lets attackers log into some Alpine Linux and other musl-based systems over SSH without a password. Who’s affected, and how to check and fix it.
Free Copilot Chat now has limits Microsoft won’t publish
Microsoft is adding unpublished fair-use limits to Copilot Chat for staff without a paid Copilot licence. What your team will see, and the settings to check.
Hackers are defrosting supermarket freezers. Is yours online?
US agencies warn hackers are targeting commercial fridge and freezer controllers and could change temperatures. Australia’s cyber agency says check your exposure.