Tailing a paper tale. On Tuesday we asked if there was any truth in an allegation that an Australian tabloid newspaper hired investigative security firms to fix electronic tracking devices to the cars of unknowing private individuals. Our mole offers more juicy details: “Someone I know, who was a person of interest to the press , couldn’t understand why representatives of the paper would appear out of the blue, some five minutes after this person arrived at a private and sometimes obscure destination, no matter how discrete the arrangements might be. A security adviser was engaged who discovered evidence (?) that a tracking device appeared to have been fitted to this person’s car, but removed before the investigation was made.”

Death becomes the carbon tax. A journalist from a tabloid newspaper is apparently phoning environment groups asking for comment on whether the emissions from cremations should be included in the carbon scheme. Brace yourself for upcoming “Death to cost more under Gillard’s carbon tax” story in the papers …

News Ltd ‘taking precautions’. After News International’s The Sun was hacked this week, Australian operators were taking no chances last night …

We are taking precautions to prevent any attacks on our IT systems here like those that have affected News Corp websites in the UK this week.

We have no evidence that attacks on our Australian systems are planned but we want to prevent any disruption to what we publish or the systems you rely on every day for work, such as email.

When you come to work tomorrow — Friday 22 July — you will have to reset your password before you can log on. Your desktop computer will explain how to do this once you turn it on.

If you also use SmartPhone and iPhone devices, you will also have to change the password on these devices so that they can sync to the email system.

To do this:

  • Set the iPhone / iPad to flight mode (so that it no longer talks to the email system)
  • Reset your password  on your desktop/laptop
  • Change the password on your iPad/iPhone
  • Set flight mode “off”

If you need assistance resetting your password or IT are required to verify your identity, the National IT Service Centre will ask you the security questions you have given us previously.

In the event IT cannot verify your identity they will be unable to assist you until your manager is able to verify your identity to IT.

If you have not previously provided security question information to IT you will need to register to do so. Registration is mandatory. To register type in mypassword into your web browser address line or follow this link https://mypassword. The User Manual which tells you about the tool and how to enrol is located here.

We know this is an inconvenience, but hope you understand it is a sensible precautionary measure.

John Pittard
Chief Information Officer

Update: Newcastle arts festival safe. An update, and some good news, from a story Crikey has covered on the uncertain fate of Newcastle’s popular This Is Not Art festival with a lifeline secured. Copyright collection agency Copyright Agency Limited’s Cultural Fund has stepped in and announced it will provide “up to $9000” in matching funding for the event. “CAL’s Cultural Fund will provide dollar for dollar funding for the TINA festival up to $9000 as this festival is considered to be one of the most important national events on the calendar of young creators,” the agency said in a media release.

As covered in Crikey, the festival had faced significant financial distress after a decision by Newcastle City Council to withdraw funding for the event after 10 years of support. Under pressure from Newcastle councillors Sharon Claydon and Nautali Nelmes, Newcastle Council this week passed a special resolution committing a fresh $9000 to the 2011 festival, and referring “the issue of future, ongoing funding of TINA to Council’s Community and Culture Advisory Committee for further investigation”.

The motion also “re-affirms our commitment to the This Is Not Art (TINA) festival as a major National festival of the Arts, which places Newcastle at the forefront of Australia’s creative industry sector” and “acknowledges that TINA is an innovative, high quality cultural event which attracts over 5000 visitors and more than $1.5 million in economic revenue to the City of Newcastle”. So the show will go on at This Is Not Art in 2011 after all.