Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security, Clare O’Neil, has announced that the next phase of the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy is now underway after the closing of public submissions.

The Department of Home Affairs received more than 280 submissions on the Strategy’s Expert Advisory Board discussion paper, which articulated different vulnerable groups grappling with cybersecurity challenges daily.

The Strategy is now expected to set out how all areas of Government would work together to protect the country from cyber threats and, the Minister said, uplift Australia’s cybersecurity capability to become the world’s most cyber-secure nation by 2030.

“This Discussion Paper shows the extent of community support for a bold and ambitious strategy to boost our domestic cyber industry, work with industry leaders, and tackle cyber threats,” O’Neil said.

“The cyber threat is growing every day, as a Government we are committed to increasing Australia’s national cyber resilience and capabilities in tackling these threats, on the road to becoming a world leader in cybersecurity by 2030.”

The Department will now review all submissions and identify key initiatives to be included in the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy, under the guidance of the Expert Advisory Board chaired by former Telstra chief executive Andrew Penn. The board also includes Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld AO DSC and chief executive of the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre, Rachael Falk, as members.

The Australian Cyber Security strategy discussion paper was launched in December 2022, with an aim of developing cybersecurity policy and initiatives under four key areas:

• A secure economy and thriving cyber ecosystem
• A secure and resilient critical infrastructure and government sector
• A sovereign and assured capability to counter cyber threats
• Australia as a trusted and influential global cyber leader, working in partnership with our neighbours to lift cyber security and build a cyber-resilient region

Following this, the Expert Advisory Board released a discussion paper seeking views on how Government can achieve its vision under the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy. Submissions for the discussion paper closed on 15 April 2023.