The security and resilience of Australia’s cyber environment and critical infrastructure will be bolstered under new Albanese Labor Government laws passed by the Parliament today.
The passage of the Government’s cyber security legislative package marks a substantial step to collectively strengthen Australia’s national cyber defences and cyber resilience across the economy.
These new laws ensure that Australians can trust their digital products, help break the ransomware business model, support Australian organisations through cyber security incidents, and ensure we’re learning and improving Australian organisations’ cyber practices, policies and procedures.
The passage of Australia’s first Cyber Security Act is a landmark reform under the Government’s 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy. The Cyber Security legislative package addresses legislative gaps, brings Australia in line with international best practice, and goes beyond, with world first measures to ensure Australia is on track to become a global leader in cyber security.
The Government has passed laws to enact seven initiatives under the Cyber Security Strategy. These new laws:
- enable the Minister for Cyber Security to prescribe mandatory cyber security standards for smart devices to give Australians assurance the devices they purchase aren’t putting them at risk
- require certain businesses to report ransom payments, so our cyber experts can build a better picture of the threat landscape
- give effect to a ‘limited use’ obligation for the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Cyber Security Coordinator and the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) to facilitate rapid and open sharing of information during a cyber security incident
- establish a Cyber Incident Review Board (CIRB) to conduct no-fault, post-incident reviews of significant cyber security incidents in Australia and make concrete recommendations to aid in the prevention, detection, response, and minimisation of cyber incidents in the future.
The package also progresses reforms under the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 (SOCI Act) that will:
- Clarify existing obligations in relation to systems holding business critical data
- Expand existing last resort powers to enable Government assistance to manage the impacts of all hazards incidents on critical infrastructure
- Simplify information sharing across industry and Government
- Enable the Government to direct entities to address serious deficiencies within their risk management programs
- Integrate regulation for the security of telecommunications into the SOCI Act.
This package cements the government’s stance to focus on a whole-of economy approach to cyber security, following the establishment of a ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Office for Cyber Security and appointment of a the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Cyber Security Coordinator.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Cyber Security Tony Burke
“The Australian Government is delivering on its commitment to secure Australia’s cyber environment and protect our critical infrastructure.
“The Government has passed into law Australia’s first standalone Cyber Security Act, a key pillar in our mission to protect Australians from cyber threats.
“This package forms a cohesive legislative toolbox for Australia to move forward with clarity and confidence in the face of an ever changing cyber landscape.
“Close co-operation between government and industry is one of our best defences against malicious cyber activity. In the wake of a cyber security incident, businesses need to know that they can call on government to quickly get the support they need.
“The Cyber Security Act marks an important step in bringing Australia’s cyber laws into the 21st century.”
