In July 2023, Mr Nathan Smyth was appointed the National Counter Foreign Interference Coordinator (NCFIC). Since 2018, Australia’s NCFIC has been working across government and non-government sectors to strengthen arrangements and partnerships to counter foreign interference.
The NCFIC is supported by the Counter Foreign Interference Coordination Centre (CFICC) within the Department of Home Affairs, which has a presence in Canberra and most state capitals around Australia.
The CFICC coordinates Australia’s whole-of-government efforts to respond to acts of foreign interference by:
- administering the
CFI Strategy to build on Australia’s existing counter foreign interference efforts across government creating an integrated and coordinated domestic and international program that responds to foreign interference activities
- coordinating outreach efforts and advice to sectors and systems at risk from foreign interference
- enhancing engagement with culturally and linguistically diverse communities to strengthen their ability to challenge manipulation and coercion from foreign actors.
The NCFIC and CFICC engage regularly with likeminded countries and regional partners to forge greater levels of global resilience to foreign interference.
A large part of the NCFIC’s responsibility is to develop approaches to deter and prevent foreign interference in Australia. This includes making Australians more resilient against the threat of foreign interference and better informed to prevent it.
