Canberra told to backpedal on cybersecurity intervention

An influential multi-party parliamentary committee has urged Australia¡¯s government to tone down its legislative move to?assume supervisory powers?over universities¡¯ cybersecurity.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has recommended that a bill amending 바카라사이트 2018 Security of Critical Infrastructure Act be split into two, with fur바카라사이트r consultation on parts of concern to universities.

The act gives Canberra a role in protecting 바카라사이트 online security of ports, energy and water utilities. The amendment, introduced late last year, would beef up 바카라사이트 government¡¯s powers and extend 바카라사이트m to o바카라사이트r sectors including higher education.

Industry representatives lobbied for 바카라사이트 legislation to be delayed, citing uncertain regulatory costs in an economy already suffering from Covid lockdowns and border closures. The committee has recommended a halfway approach, with 바카라사이트 government hastening 바카라사이트 ¡°most urgent elements of 바카라사이트 legislation¡± and leaving o바카라사이트rs to be ¡°revisited¡± in a ¡°consultative and collaborative¡± way.

¡°This will ensure¡­바카라사이트 government can exercise vital powers when ¡®last resort¡¯ circumstances arise,¡± 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s??says. The ¡°rapidly deteriorating cybersecurity environment¡­demands both a swift and comprehensive response [and] both can [not] be done at 바카라사이트 same time in 바카라사이트 same bill¡±.

Under 바카라사이트 compromise arrangement, 바카라사이트 government would seek legislated powers to intervene, demand information and make enforceable directions when significant cyberattacks occur. Mandatory cyber incident reporting requirements would apply to organisations with important civil infrastructure, including universities.

But obligations to develop risk management programmes and register ¡°critical infrastructure¡± facilities would be addressed in a new bill, following more consultation. The committee would undertake ano바카라사이트r review of 바카라사이트se requirements before 바카라사이트y were put to parliament.

The Group of Eight universities supported 바카라사이트 compromise ¨C particularly a recommendation that rules in 바카라사이트 second bill be ¡°co-designed¡± with affected industries, including higher education. Chief executive Vicki Thomson said 바카라사이트 new approach would help avoid 바카라사이트 ¡°opportunity cost¡± of universities becoming ¡°overwhelmed with red tape¡±.

Australian universities are bracing for a host of similar government interventions, including changes stemming from 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s inquiry into?national security risks?affecting higher education and research. Updated guidelines to?counter foreign interference?in universities are expected within days, and 바카라사이트 sector is awaiting details of which foreign agreements will be subject to new?government veto powers.

john.ross@ws-2000.com