Australia Proposes Reforms for Enhanced Cybersecurity Intervention Powers

• •Australia is consulting on reforms to enhance cybersecurity intervention powers.
• •Proposed changes aim to improve response times to threats against critical infrastructure.
• •The reforms follow an independent review highlighting the need for agility in cybersecurity measures.

Australia's Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre (CISC) has initiated consultations on reforms to the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 (SOCI) aimed at enhancing Ministerial intervention powers during cyber incidents. The proposed reforms seek to improve the speed, clarity, and flexibility of government responses to threats against critical infrastructure, particularly in light of evolving cyber threats and supply chain vulnerabilities. These changes are in response to an independent review that emphasized the need for agility in the face of an increasingly interconnected threat landscape. The government is considering amendments to Section 32 of the SOCI Act to ensure timely and effective interventions while maintaining safeguards and accountability. The reforms are part of a broader strategy to protect national security and essential services from potential cascading disruptions across sectors. The consultation process will gather industry feedback on five targeted measures designed to enhance the Ministerial Directions Powers under the SOCI Act.