Australia launches new cyber strategy

The Australian government has launched Australia’s International Cyber and Critical Technology Engagement Strategy, setting out our goal for a safe, secure and prosperous Australia, Indo-Pacific and world, enabled by cyberspace and critical technology. This Strategy comes as technology is changing the way we live and work, and impacting economic, strategic and foreign policy developments. Based on three key pillars of values, security and prosperity, this framework will guide Australia’s practical international engagement across cyber and critical technology issues, in order to create an environment that embraces the enormous opportunities of innovation while avoiding and mitigating the risks. The strategy’s aims, to strengthen national security, protect our democracy and sovereignty, promote economic growth, and pursue international peace and stability, are founded in Australia’s national interests. Key to this strategy is a package that will support cyber and critical technology resilience in our region: Australia will co-sponsor a proposal to establish a new United Nations Program of Action for Responsible State Behaviour in Cyberspace. The flagship Cyber Cooperation Program will become the Cyber and Critical Tech Cooperation Program, including an additional $20.5 million to strengthen cyber and critical technology resilience in Southeast Asia. We will contribute a further $17 million to support neighbours in the Pacific to strengthen their cyber capabilities and resilience, including to fight cybercrime, improve online safety, and counter disinformation and misinformation. Australia will also support a partnership with Standards Australia in Southeast Asia, a partnership with the University of Technology, Sydney in Southeast Asia and a partnership with Trustwave in Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. Three grants have also been successful under the Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership program: The Centre for International Security Studies at the University of Sydney and India’s Observer Research Foundation. La Trobe University and the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. The School of Computer Science at the University of Sydney, in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Reliance Jio and the University of New South Wales. The strategy can be read in full here: www.internationalcybertech.gov.au. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Director of Sales Graham Joss at [email protected]