5 years ago
CYBERSECURITY LEADERSHIP NOT FOUND
SENATOR THE HON KRISTINA KENEALLY
Labor welcomes news the third term Morrison Government will develop a new cybersecurity strategy however is concerned it has been left in the hands of the incompetent Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton.
Under this third term Government, Australia has had almost as many cyber security policies as energy policies – coupled with non-existent leadership.
The Turnbull Government’s 2016 Cybersecurity strategy was released with great fanfare and hundreds of millions of dollars in funding but for years, the results have been patchy at best.
After Peter Dutton tried to take Malcolm Turnbull’s job, Prime Minister Scott Morrison had the chance to appoint a new dedicated Minister for Cybersecurity when he formed his new ministry but chose not to.
Instead Scott Morrison left all responsibility in the hands of Peter Dutton. As a result, much of the Government’s cybersecurity strategy has been abandoned or simply forgotten including:
Under this third term Government, Australia has had almost as many cyber security policies as energy policies – coupled with non-existent leadership.
The Turnbull Government’s 2016 Cybersecurity strategy was released with great fanfare and hundreds of millions of dollars in funding but for years, the results have been patchy at best.
After Peter Dutton tried to take Malcolm Turnbull’s job, Prime Minister Scott Morrison had the chance to appoint a new dedicated Minister for Cybersecurity when he formed his new ministry but chose not to.
Instead Scott Morrison left all responsibility in the hands of Peter Dutton. As a result, much of the Government’s cybersecurity strategy has been abandoned or simply forgotten including:
- No annual updates reporting on implementation since 2017;
- Failing to hold promised annual cyber security leaders’ meetings since 2017;
- Abolishing the website of the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) Australia; and
- Failing to establish an online information sharing portal to address emerging cyber threats. Australia’s commitment to cyber security has fallen in recent years according to the United Nations International Telecommunications Union global cyber security index.
In 2014 Australia ranked 3rd before falling to 11th in 2018.
Globally, Australia is ranked in the top five for the most number of data breaches by population.
Globally, Australia is ranked in the top five for the most number of data breaches by population.