Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This was just sprung on me. I had no idea it was coming on. It was supposed to be tomorrow. On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I present the committee's advisory report, incorporating a dissenting report, on the Cyber Security Legislative Package 2024.

Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e).

by leave—Cybersecurity and the protection of critical infrastructure are increasingly important components of Australia's national security and economic resilience. As has been demonstrated by multiple events in recent years, cybersecurity incidents have the potential to compromise the privacy and security of millions of Australians, enabling fraud and extortion on a scale that was not previously possible. Even more seriously, hostile nation-states are increasingly seeing cyber vulnerabilities as a possible means to sabotage critical infrastructure and damage Australia's interests in a time of conflict.

Hardening Australia's cybersecurity against threats is essential to Australia's ongoing security and prosperity. As cyberwarfare expert James Scott said, 'There's no silver bullet with cybersecurity; a layered defence is the only viable option.' But the reality is that more must be done. To that end, the Cyber Security Legislative Package aims to continue the world-leading work of the former coalition government to boost Australia's cybersecurity capabilities. It consists of three bills: the Cyber Security Bill 2024, the Intelligence Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Cyber Security) Bill 2024 and the Security of Critical Infrastructure and Other Legislation Amendment (Enhanced Response and Prevention) Bill 2024. Collectively these bills provide a suite of measures intended—

Karen Andrews (McPherson, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Apologies; I need to interrupt you. You will be granted permission to continue your comments when the debate is resumed.