A number of big deals in the past 12 months reflect the success of a wave of companies in Australia’s maturing tech sector. Afterpay’s $39 billion sale to Twitter founder Jack Dorsey’s fintech business Square Inc was the most obvious example of Aussie tech leaders becoming significant global players. Other companies’ valuations soared past unicorn ($1 billion) level as funding rounds got bigger and venture investment funds swelled.

Away from the start-up deals, the impact of tech on public and corporate policy has been front and centre on the rare days the pandemic drops off the front pages.