Australia’s largest-ever allocation to cyber security has been announced by the Prime Minister, with the capabilities of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) to receive a 10-year, $1.35 billion boost.
Mr Morrison said the package, known as Cyber Enhanced Situational Awareness and Response (CESAR), would allow for the identification of more cyber threats, disrupt more foreign cyber-criminals, build more partnerships with industry and Government and protect more Australians.
“Malicious cyber activity against Australia is increasing in frequency, scale and sophistication,” Mr Morrison said.
“The Federal Government’s top priority is protecting our nation’s economy, national security and sovereignty. Malicious cyber activity undermines that.”
He said CESAR would boost protection and cyber resilience for all Australians, from individuals and small businesses through to the providers of critical services.
“It will provide greater capacity to take the fight to cyber-criminals offshore and to neutralise and block emerging cyber threats to Australia,” he said.
“It will enhance our understanding of malicious cyber activity so that emerging cyber threats can be more rapidly identified and responded to.”
Mr Morrison said the package would include $470 million to expand the cyber security workforce by creating more than 500 new jobs within the ASD.
Minister for Defence, Senator Linda Reynolds said the package would put Australia on the front foot in combatting cyber threats.
“For example, this package will enable the ASD and Australia’s major telecommunications providers to prevent malicious cyber activity from reaching millions of Australians by blocking known malicious websites and computer viruses at speed,” Senator Reynolds said.
Minister for Home Affairs, Peter Dutton said the Australian Federal Police and other Home Affairs Agencies were confronting increasingly brazen cyber criminals and other online threats.
“This investment will significantly strengthen our Agencies’ ability to tackle these threats,” Mr Dutton said.
