Consultation on proposed new cyber security legislation and on changes to the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018
The protection of our cyber security and critical infrastructure is vital to Australia’s national security and economic stability.
Increasing connectivity brings great benefits, but also great risk. Today, a cyber incident can spread instantaneously. These incidents can disrupt interconnected systems and networks across the economy.
Such incidents have affected many Australians. We cannot ignore the lessons learned from them.
The Australian Government committed to being a world-leader in cyber security by 2030. This is outlined in the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy. Stronger cyber protections will allow our citizens and businesses to prosper. It will also help them recover quickly after a cyber-attack. The Australian Government is also committed to a new era of public-private partnership. This aims to improve Australia’s cyber security and resilience.
The Australian Government has identified opportunities to strengthen cyber security laws. These laws give the right level of protection to Australian citizens and businesses. Addressing these issues will help to build basic cyber risk mitigations across the economy. They will help citizens and businesses engage in the digital economy confidently.
We understand that introducing new legislation, or changing existing legislation, can have significant impacts on how businesses make decisions. That is why we consult on proposed reforms to Australia’s legislative settings.
Subject to this consultation process are:
- New legislative initiatives to address gaps in current laws.
- Amendments to the
Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 (SOCI Act). This aims to improve security and resilience following recent attacks through cyber response and prevention.
The Australian Government’s proposed reforms are outlined within the
2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy: Cyber Security Legislative Reforms Consultation Paper (the Consultation Paper).
Providing a submission
The submission portal has closed as of 5pm AEDT, Friday 1 March 2024. You can view published submissions at Submissions and discussion papers.
For more information contact
CI.Reforms@homeaffairs.gov.au.
Understanding the Consultation Paper
The Department hosted a number of virtual town hall and deep dive sessions. These sessions provided further information on the:
- Consultation Paper and consultation process
- proposed legislative reform on new initiatives to address gaps in existing laws
- proposed changes to the SOCI Act.
They also answered questions about each of the four proposed legislative measures listed in Part 1 of the Consultation Paper.
The recordings of the town hall sessions are available on the Town hall and awareness sessions page of the
CISC website.
Public town halls consultation summary
The Department hosted two virtual town hall sessions. These sessions provided a summary of feedback received after the consultation period.
