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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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PJCIS backs laws to further strengthen intelligence community

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has backed proposed laws that will further strengthen the capacity of the National Intelligence Community to contend with a rapidly deteriorating security environment.

In its Review of the National Security Legislation Amendment (Comprehensive Review and Other Measures No. 1) Bill 2021, the PJCIS closely examined the Federal Government response to several recommendations of the Comprehensive Review of the Legal Framework of the National Intelligence Community (Comprehensive Review), led by Dennis Richardson AC. This includes:

  • enabling the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO) to undertake activities to produce intelligence where there is, or is likely to be, an imminent risk to the safety of an Australian person
  • enabling ASIS, ASD and AGO to seek ministerial authorisation to produce intelligence on a class of Australian persons who are, or are likely to be, involved with a listed terrorist organisation
  • allowing ASIS more flexibility to work with ASIO in the performance of its functions within Australia.

Committee chair Senator James Paterson said the laws address critical operational challenges currently experienced in the National Intelligence Community.

"These laws modernise the legal framework that binds and empowers our National Intelligence Community by giving them the tools they need to keep pace with an evolving security landscape," Senator Paterson said.

'The committee is satisfied that these tools are proportionate to the threat at large, and with only minor amendments, contain robust oversight mechanisms and privacy protections."

Further information on the review as well as a copy of the report can be obtained from the Committee’s website.

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PJCIS supports terrorist listing of Hizballah and The Base

THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has endorsed the listing of Hizballah and The Base as terrorist organisations under Australia’s Criminal Code.

The PJCIS today presented the report of its Review of regulations listing Hizballah and The Base as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code Act 1995.

The regulations, made in December 2021, list Hizballah in its entirety as a terrorist organisation for the first time. In a review of previous regulations, in June 2021 the committee supported the re-listing of Hizballah’s External Security Organisation under the Criminal Code, but went a step further to recommend that the Federal Government expand the listing to include the whole organisation of Hizballah.

Committee chair Senator James Paterson thanked the government for acting on the committee’s recommendation, in recognition of the overwhelming evidence that Hizballah and its External Security Organisation in fact operate as a singular entity, under a singular leadership with shared financing and personnel.

"It’s crystal clear that all of Hizballah is guilty of its violent acts of terrorism against innocent civilians," Senator Paterson said.

"This terror listing holds the entire organisation to account and sends a strong message that Australia does not tolerate any form of terrorism. It makes clear that Australians should not have any association with Hizballah."

The Base has also been listed as a terrorist organisation for the first time. The Base is a US-based racist and nationalist violent extremist group which encourages terror attacks and other acts of violence, and has attempted to recruit Australians.

"Like Hizballah, the committee is satisfied that The Base is involved in the planning and preparation of violent terrorist attacks to harm innocent civilians, including Australians. Their terror listing is an important measure to keep the community safe," Senator Paterson said.

Further information on the review as well as a copy of the report can be obtained from the committee’s website.

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Uncharted Territory: Review of the RBA tabled in the House

THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics today tabled its report titled Uncharted Territory: Review of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Annual Reports 2019 and 2020. The report focuses on matters arising from public hearings held in August 2020, December 2020, February 2021, August 2021 and February 2022.

The committee scrutinised the RBA on its response to the COVID-19 pandemic through monetary policy – in particular, reducing the cash rate, introducing a bond yield target and bond purchase program, providing a Term Funding Facility (TFF), and reducing the interest rate paid on Exchange Settlement (ES) balances.

The committee also heard from the RBA on Australia’s economic recovery, and broader economic conditions including inflation, unemployment, wage growth, labour supply and housing affordability. Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee inquired into issues such as digital currency, digital wallets and governance issues in the RBA.

Monetary policy was descried as remaining "incredibly consequential for the Australian economy during these times of great uncertainty" — in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine "and as we emerge from the pandemic".

Accordingly, the committee plans to continue to scrutinise the RBA’s policy responses to current and emerging threats to the strength of the nation’s economy and ensure the transparency and accountability of RBA decisions.  

A full copy of the committee’s report is available on committee’s website: www.aph.gov.au/economics

 

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Pressing matters: report on Australia's regional newspapers

RECOMMENDATIONS to support Australia’s newspaper services in rural, regional and remote areas will be laid out in a report released today by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts.

Committee Chair, Anne Webster MP said, "Regional newspapers in Australia represent a large and diverse industry, which has experienced significant challenges over the past decade. With the transition to digital news and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, assessing the health of our regional newspapers is more important than ever before."

The Committee made 12 recommendations aimed at addressing core sector issues, and implementing alternative and sustainable business practices, to ensure the longevity of local newspapers across Australia.

The Committee also recommended a multi-pronged approach to support the long-term viability of the sector, particularly for small and independent newspapers based in regional and remote Australian communities. The approach includes the funding and development of a project to gather and analyse core longitudinal data on regional newspapers in Australia.

"For people in regional, rural, or remote communities, regional newspapers are the main source of local information. It also plays an important role in maintaining an interconnected community, and a healthy democracy," Dr Webster said.

"A diversity of opinion from all sides of the political spectrum and coverage of local, as well as national issues, is essential to public debate. It is important we ensure the sector remains viable in the long-term," Dr Webster said.

The report can be accessed from the committee’s website.

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