The Labor Victorian Government has sold its’ Land Titles Registry for close to three billion dollars, following similar sales in NSW and SA. The Subdivisions, Application & Survey, Valuer-General Victoria, Land Information and Spatial Services, Government Land Advice and Coordination and the Victorian Government Land Monitor areas are excluded from the sale and will stay in Government hands. The concession has been granted two months before a state election.
Conveyancer hacker and PEXA used to steal settlement funds
A Melbourne couple had their settlement money siphoned off through PEXA when hackers breached the email system of their conveyancer. They then set up PEXA accounts and redirected the funds that were destined to pay for a house the couple were in the process of purchasing. This is a timely reminder that in today’s day and age of electronic systems dealing with critical data and finances, it’s not just the core systems that need to be kept secure but the entire ecosystem. Anyone or any company dealing with sensitive data or transactions need to address information security.
Highlighting the importance of OpenStreetMap
Open Source advocate Glyn Moody posts about the importance of OpenStreetMap to Open Source in general.
https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/openstreetmap-should-be-priority-open-source-community
Victoria University Proposal For Old Land Titles Office Site Rejected
I have fond memories of working in the old Land Titles Office in the late 90’s and early 2000’s when I was part of the Titles Automation Project for the Victorian Government. It is a unique historic site and I’m glad the proposal by Victoria University was rejected as it really is out of character for the site.
Esri to fund getting their GIS tools into Australian schools
In a move that will help foster interest in the spatial industry for the next generation, and is a very smart business move by Esri, their ArcGIS tool will be given to schools along with material to help guide teachers in adding geospatial concepts to the curriculum.
Esri stumps up $100 M to put GIS into every Australian classroom