October marks Cyber Security Awareness Month, a national initiative led by the Australian Government to promote safer digital habits across businesses and communities. This year’s theme—“Building Our Cyber Safe Culture”—calls on every organisation to embed cyber resilience into daily operations. It can be easy to fall into the trap of believing that responsbility for cyber […]
In September 2025, the Australian Privacy Commissioner ruled that Kmart’s use of facial recognition technology (FRT) between 2020 and 2022 was unlawful. The retailer had deployed FRT across 28 stores to combat refund fraud, capturing biometric data from every customer entering the premises—without notice or consent. The Commissioner found that: This case underscores the importance […]
A reminder to all members and providers that Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins in Australia at 2:00am on Sunday, 5 October 2025. Clocks will move forward one hour, meaning 2:00am becomes 3:00am. This applies in the following Australian states and territories: Queensland, Western Australia and Northern Territory do NOT observe Daylight Saving Time (DST). SPAAL […]
Australia’s private security industry continues to expand at a record pace, with recent data showing over 162,000 licensed security personnel nationwide — a figure that now surpasses the combined total of police and military officers. This surge reflects growing demand across sectors including retail, healthcare, education, and critical infrastructure. From frontline guarding to integrated systems […]
As SPAAL continues to champion higher standards and smarter practices across Australia’s security industry, one emerging threat demands urgent attention: the rise of deepfake-enabled fraud and AI-driven impersonation. What was once a fringe concern in digital media has rapidly evolved into a real-world risk for businesses, governments, and frontline security personnel. With generative AI now […]
ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess recently revealed that foreign interference is costing Australia an estimated $12.5 billion annually. This espionage threat – from cyber-intrusions to insider recruitment – extends across government, infrastructure, academia and private enterprise. It has prompted urgent calls for stronger protective measures. While much of the public focus remains on intelligence agencies and […]