News In Brief

Welcome to our ‘News In Brief’ column in which we digest all the news releases for you in no more than five paragraphs.
Below are snippets of all the media releases we received from June 8 till the end of the week.
This article updates throughout the week.

Recession Fears Grip Australians

Perth, June 9: Millions of Australians are concerned the country could enter a recession before the end of 2026, according to new research from Finder.
A survey of 1,017 Australians found 48% believe a recession is likely by year’s end, while a further 16% say it is certain, equating to an estimated 13.7 million Australians expecting an economic downturn within months.
The findings come as separate Finder research reveals 42% of Australians have less than $1,000 in savings, highlighting ongoing financial pressures facing households.
Sarah Megginson, personal finance expert at Finder, said Australians are stressed about the state of the economy.
“Families all over the country are feeling a big financial squeeze, and many are worried things will get worse before they improve.
“While a recession isn’t guaranteed, the fact that so many people expect one shows just how anxious they are.”
Megginson said fears of a downturn were already influencing spending habits.“Families are becoming more cautious about spending money and taking on new debt.”
Finder’s research found 15% of respondents were unsure whether a recession was looming, while 18% believed one was unlikely and just 3% said it certainly would not happen.
Megginson encouraged Australians to focus on reducing debt, building emergency savings, reviewing household budgets and consolidating multiple superannuation accounts to improve their financial resilience during uncertain economic conditions.
“Economic uncertainty is scary, but taking a few proactive steps today can help you feel much more in control of whatever comes next.”

NTT DATA Expands AI Partnership

Perth, June 9: NTT DATA has expanded its collaboration with Google Cloud to help enterprises move from AI pilots to large-scale deployment of agentic AI solutions powered by Gemini Enterprise.
The partnership will see NTT DATA establish a dedicated Gemini Enterprise practice and train 5,000 certified experts globally. The companies also plan to co-develop and deploy up to 500 AI agents across industry and business use cases, including banking, insurance, manufacturing, retail, software development and cloud migration.
“Enterprises need a practical way to scale AI adoption, strengthen governance, enable their workforce and create measurable business value,” said Abhijit Dubey, CEO and Chief AI Officer, NTT DATA, Inc. “This expanded partnership with Google Cloud and NTT DATA is helping clients move beyond pilots and embed AI into the way their organisations operate, creating a faster and lower-risk path to enterprise-wide transformation.”
“We are seeing massive demand for AI agents that can fundamentally transform core business workflows,” said Matt Renner, President and Chief Revenue Officer, Google Cloud. “This expanded partnership combines Google Cloud’s leading AI platform with NTT DATA’s delivery strength.”
According to NTT DATA, 99% of enterprises say AI is driving greater demand for cloud investment, while 88% report current cloud spending levels are putting AI and modernisation initiatives at risk.

Healthcare Data Fuels Cybercrime

Perth, June 9: New research from TrendAI™ has revealed that stolen healthcare data is being traded through a sophisticated underground economy involving ransomware groups, access brokers, credential sellers and fraud marketplaces.
Over a 12-month period, researchers analysed 7,779 underground forum posts, 21,813 marketplace listings and 95 ransomware leak sites, finding that healthcare information remains one of the most valuable forms of stolen data due to its sensitivity, permanence and potential for repeated criminal use. Ransomware-related data sales accounted for more than 36% of marketplace activity, while attacks targeting electronic health record (EHR) and electronic medical record (EMR) providers continue to rise.
“Patient data is a lucrative target for cybercriminals. Health data is permanent, deeply sensitive and highly reusable, with a single breach creating long-term consequences for individuals, healthcare providers and the wider health ecosystem. The 2024 MediSecure cyber security incident alone saw private data from 12.9 million Australians breached,” said Andrew Philp, Field CISO ANZ, TrendAI™.
The report also highlights the growing industrialisation of healthcare cybercrime, with marketplaces offering access to hospital networks, insurance records and fraudulent medical documentation. “Healthcare data has evolved from stolen information into a long-term criminal asset class,” said Stephen Hilt, Principal Threat Researcher. “Unlike a credit card, a patient’s diagnoses, treatment history or biometric data cannot simply be cancelled and reissued, which makes healthcare organisations uniquely attractive to ransomware groups and data brokers.”

New Hub Supports MBC Patients

Perth, June 9: Australia’s first dedicated information and support hub for people living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) has been launched by MBC Action Australia following new estimates showing around 21,000 Australians are living with the incurable disease.
The MBC Information & Support Hub was co-designed by people living with metastatic breast cancer, their families, clinicians and expert advisers to address gaps in information and support. Unlike early breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer is incurable and requires lifelong treatment.
“People living with MBC often spend hours searching online for information that is confusing, frightening or just not relevant,” said Jill, who has lived with metastatic breast cancer for 11 years and contributed to the Hub’s development.
The Hub provides evidence-based treatment information, practical guidance and links to support services tailored to different stages of living with metastatic breast cancer. It is available at mbchub.au.

Pay.com.au Targets US Expansion

Perth, June 9: Australian fintech pay.com.au has surpassed 10 billion rewards points redeemed across its 70,000-strong customer base, marking a major milestone for the business.
The company has also appointed former Flippa executive Blake Hutchison as CEO of its North American business, PayRewards, as it prepares to expand into the United States market. Hutchison brings more than two decades of experience across small business, fintech and digital marketplaces, including senior roles at Flippa, Xero, Lonely Planet and Luxury Escapes.
In his new role, Hutchison will lead PayRewards’ US launch, with a focus on helping small and medium-sized businesses turn everyday operational expenses into rewards and benefits.