A re-elected Coalition Government will keep Australians’ data and personal information more secure by taking cyber security action in the rapidly growing ‘smart’ device market, as the number of smart products in Australian homes is expected to double between 2019 and 2024.
New minimum cyber security standards will protect smart devices such as smart watches, baby monitors, fitness tracking devices, security cameras and smart home appliances like fridges, while an industry-led, voluntary cyber security label will also give Australians more information about the security of the products they buy – boosting consumer confidence.
Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews said the new measures reflect increasing threats from cyber-criminals and hackers and build on the comprehensive action the Morrison Government has taken to uplift Australia’s cyber security.
“As part of our Cyber Security Strategy, we will provide Australian consumers and businesses with the tools and information they need to protect themselves from malicious cyber activity,” Minister Andrews said.
“The smart device market is growing rapidly but devices are not always secure. Overseas hackers have been able to steal personal information by remotely accessing the very devices victims bought to protect their homes.
“Government and industry cannot face growing threats to cyber security alone and that is why our Government is uplifting the cyber security of all Australians and Australian businesses.
“The Morrison Government’s strong track record and well-resourced plan for cyber security, contrasts sharply with Labor, who don’t have a plan at all.
“Anthony Albanese’s Budget reply speech didn’t mention the word ‘cybersecurity’ once, whereas the Morrison Government backed in Australia’s digital future with almost $10 billion of new funding for cyber security.”
The minimum cyber security standards will be aligned with the new standards in the UK to reduce the cost and regulatory burden on industry. The voluntary labelling scheme will be co-developed with industry to inform consumer decisions. These decisions have been informed by the work of the Cyber Security Best Practice Regulation Taskforce.
The Morrison Government continues to address the growing risk of cyber threats, which cost our economy around $33 billion in self-reported losses in the last financial year, to ensure Australian businesses and households can take full advantage of the digital economy, and build trust in the systems we all rely on.
The introduction of new standards forms part of the Coalition’s effort to make Australia a top ten data and digital economy by 2030 and complements the Morrison Government’s strong record to strengthen Australia’s cybersecurity, including by:
- supporting industries to grow online by launching the National Plan to Combat Cybercrime
- cracking down on the cybercriminals by funding a dedicated AFP-led cybercrime centre
- securinglandmark reforms to national security legislation to better protect our critical infrastructure
- making all Australians safer through passage of important legislation to revolutionise the way Australian agencies investigate and prosecute cybercrime
- ensuring our law enforcement agencies have much neededpowers to combat crime on the dark web
- cracking down andprotecting Australians from ransomware through the Ransomware Action Plan
- facilitating the exchange of digital information with US authorities by signing theCLOUD Act Agreement with the United States
- launching a public information campaign to increase Australian’s cyber security.
Only the Morrison Government can deliver a stronger and safer future for Australians.
