- Published:
- Thursday 21 April 2016
The Andrews Labor Government welcomes the announcement of a national Cyber Security Strategy launched by the Commonwealth Government at Australian Technology Park in Sydney today.
This will be an important step in strengthening cyber defences, education, partnerships, research and development, and global awareness.
Cyber security, an industry now worth US $71 billion a year globally, is crucial to safeguarding Australia's fast growing digital economy – and Victoria is well-positioned to work with the Commonwealth to make this a priority.
The Labor Government has been working hard to keep Victoria at the forefront of Australia’s expertise and capabilities in cyber security with Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis announcing last December the establishment of the Oceania Cyber Security Centre (OCSC) in Melbourne.
The centre will be housed at the Good Shed, which will also be home to the national cyber security centre for Data61, the digital research arm of the CSIRO, and the first ever international office for Oxford University’s world leading Global Cyber Security Capacity Centre (GCSCC).
The OCSC is being set up with support from government and will bring together eight Victorian universities, the Melbourne-based Defence Science Institute and major private sector partners.
It will be aimed at improving industry-university collaboration and advancing expertise in the sector, with a focus on utility asset protection, transport grids and our health network.
These cyber security investments also follow moves to Victoria by a growing list of tech companies including the country’s National Broadband Network (NBN), who announced last year that they would be establishing their national Cyber Security Operations Centre in Victoria with 700 new jobs over the next five years.
Victoria will also be the first Australian government to partner with the Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce to lead a data and cyber security trade mission to Israel, attending the 4th International Conference on Homeland Security & Cyber in November this year.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis
“Cyber security is critical to safeguarding our digital economy and as society becomes more and more digitalised this becomes a more important issue – which is why the Andrews Labor Government is investing heavily in this space.”
“Victoria is leading the country in data and cyber security so we are well-positioned to partner with the Commonwealth Government on their new strategy and lend our state’s expertise to growing this critical industry.”
“Not only will it be a safeguard for our digital economy but it will be a significant economic driver for the state.”