A Coordinator of Cyber Security is to be appointed and a new Office established to improve Australia’s growing protection against the increasing threats of cyber rimes.
Announced by the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Cyber Security, Clair O’Neil, the new Coordinator and Office are to be set up within the Department of Home Affairs to ensure a centrally coordinated approach to delivering the Government’s cyber security responsibilities.
Ms O’Neil said advertising for the Coordinator was already underway and was expected to be filled within the month.
She didn’t specify how many staff the new National Office would require however, saying it would be staffed as needed.
“It’s absolutely essentially that we better coordinate the work that is happening within Government,” Ms O’Neil said.
“We have a whole range of Government Departments that are doing really important work, and indeed lots of people in the community who are doing great things for cyber security,” she said.
“The problem is that at the moment they’re all rolling in different directions.
“We need a coordinator within Government to make sure that all of that good work adds up to a more cyber secure Australia, and to make sure that when businesses and organisations and citizens are under cyber-attack that they have one point of entry for the Australian Government to come and help them.”
Ms O’Neil also called for feedback by 15 April on the development of the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy.
She said the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy discussion paper, released by the Cyber Security Strategy Expert Advisory Board, was an opportunity for people to have their say on how to make Australia a world-leader in cyber security by 2030.
“To achieve our vision of being the world’s most cyber secure country by 2030, we need the unified effort of Government, industry and the community,” the Minister said.
“Together, we can equip our community to reduce the number and impact of cyber incidents through improved cyber hygiene and provide clear advice on how to respond confidently when they occur.”
Ms O’Neil said the paper outlined core policy areas that were expected to be addressed in the Strategy as well as a series of potential policy areas, seeking feedback on what actions Government should take to become the world’s most cyber secure nation.
The 25-page Discussion Paper can be accessed at this PS News link.
