PJCIS backs second tranche of cyber laws to ensure a united response to cyber-attacks

THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has backed proposed new laws that further enhance government cooperation with industry to combat sophisticated cyber-attacks on Australia’s critical infrastructure.

In its Advisory report on the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure Protection) Bill 2022 (SLACIP Bill) presented on Friday, the committee has recommended that the next phase of critical infrastructure protections be passed, with targeted amendments. These provisions will enable the government to work with industry to ensure that appropriate risk management programs are in place, and that the nation’s most at risk assets can be protected on all fronts.

The PJCIS has made 11 recommendations in relation to the Bill and the revised Security of Critical Infrastructure (SOCI) framework, which aim to ensure that:

• the cooperative relationship with industry can continue to inform the flexible regulatory base that the Bill proposes;
• the committee is notified when sensitive powers are exercised and that consultation is ongoing and effective;
• elements of the potential impact of the Bill on workers’ rights are clarified, definitions codified and that review mechanisms be considered; and
• the Bill’s mechanisms will be reviewed for their effectiveness, operation and proportionality, once the new powers are finalised and implemented.

Chair of the committee, Senator James Paterson said, "The new laws are a critical tool that will bring together government and industry to strengthen our defences against significant threats from nation state adversaries and criminal actors.

"The threat to Australia is increasing in scale and sophistication, and so it’s never been more important to harden our systems. That requires a collaborative effort from government and industry to identify and counter cyber threats targeted at our critical infrastructure, many of which are currently regarded as soft targets by our adversaries," Senator Paterson said.

"Regrettably, even the best endeavours of industry may not be enough to stop a cascading and potentially economy-crippling collapse of supply lines and services. That’s why government and industry must be able to efficiently and effectively combine efforts to defend these critical systems.

'The committee is confident that these tools strike the right balance to ensure our nation’s most critical assets are protected from cyber threats at all levels. The cost of inaction is simply too high.

"To ensure the laws achieve this critical objective, the committee has recommended that their effectiveness be reviewed once fully implemented to ensure they remain fit for purpose and proportionate to the threat environment," Senator Paterson said.

Further information on the inquiry as well as a copy of the report can be obtained from the inquiry website.

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