Prime Minister to take command of Australia's cyber security

David Heath
Monday, 12 December 2011 14:16

IT Policy - Government Tech Policy

Today's Cabinet reshuffle takes the nation's cyber security policy development away from the Attorney-General's portfolio and into the Prime Minister's.

In the written transcript of the prime Minister's speech listing the changes to Cabinet and the various portfolio changes for existing ministers, we see as the final comment that '"Responsibility for cyber security policy will move from the Attorney-General's portfolio to my portfolio."  This announcement appears to have been missed when the Prime Minister presented the changes verbally this morning.

This announcement means that although outgoing Attorney-General Robert McClelland had ownership of this policy area, incoming Attorney-General Nicola Roxon will not. 

Conversely, The Prime Minister has announced that she is shedding responsibility for national security research and innovation to the Defence portfolio.

Cyber security is a very detailed and complex policy area and iTWire is hopeful that the Prime Minister is able to devote the necessary resources to it.