WHO IS THE CYBER SECURITY MINISTER?

SENATOR KRISTINA KENEALLY.
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3 years ago
WHO IS THE CYBER SECURITY MINISTER?
SENATOR KRISTINA KENEALLY
Four months after the previous strategy expired, the Morrison Government has finally announced their 2020 Cyber Security Strategy but still can’t say which Minister is responsible for Australia’s cyber security.
 
The Liberals have been in Government for seven years and are now trying to play catch-up on cyber security during a global pandemic and Australia’s first recession in three decades. 
 
Australia’s cyber security requires leadership but the first decision Scott Morrison made upon becoming Prime Minister was to abolish the dedicated ministerial role for cyber security – a disastrous decision that has left cyber security policy politically orphaned.
 
Is Peter “Ruby Princess” Dutton now responsible for cyber security despite having never held a dedicated press conference about cyber security?
 
Peter Dutton was missing in action on 19 June when Scott Morrison announced Australia was being targeted by a sophisticated state-based cyber actor and absent when the Government announced repurposed funding for cyber security on 30 June.
 
Cyber security is about our national security but is also about the security of the livelihoods of Australians and Australian businesses.
 
Australia has the 5th largest number of data breaches by population and our global standing in cyber security has fallen from 3rd in 2014 to 11th in 2018 under the Liberals.
 
A four-week digital interruption to Australia’s economy, such as a widespread cyber-attack, would cost the Australian economy up to $30 billion and over 163,000 jobs.
 
The Morrison Government needs to get their own house in order too – 70 per cent of Commonwealth agencies have failed to implement basic cyber security measures according to the Auditor-General.
 
Labor will consider the detail of the Government’s strategy, including any legislative proposals, but the Morrison Government’s track record on cyber security so far has been over-promise and no delivery.
 
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