Software giant Atlassian is the latest Australian tech company to slash its workforce.

Its CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes told staff yesterday that the decision to lay off 16-hundred workers globally - 500 in Australia - was needed for the company's long-term health.

It comes as thousands of jobs are shed at Australian software company WiseTech - and Block, the owner of AfterPay.

• Guest: James Riley, Editorial Director of InnovationAus.com