Australia will spend AUS$1.35 billion (US$926.1 million) over the next 10 years to boost its cyber security defences, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday, as Canberra seeks to combat a wave of attacks.
FILE PHOTO: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during a joint press conference held with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at Admiralty House in Sydney, Australia, February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott/File Photo
30 Jun 2020 01:25PM
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SYDNEY: Australia will spend AUS$1.35 billion (US$926.1 million) over the next 10 years to boost its cyber security defences, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday, as Canberra seeks to combat a wave of attacks.
The announcement comes just weeks after Australia said a "sophisticated state-based actor" has been attacking all levels of the government, political bodies, essential service providers and operators of critical infrastructure.
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Although Australia has declined to say who it believed was responsible for the attacks, three sources briefed on the matter told Reuters the country believed China was responsible, a suggestion swiftly dismissed by Beijing.
"The federal government's top priority is protecting our nation's economy, national security and sovereignty. Malicious cyber activity undermines that," Morrison said in a statement.
The package will include AUS$470 million to hire an extra 500 security experts in the Australian Signals Directorate, the country's cyber intelligence agency.
The funding is part of a AUS$15 billion investment in cyber warfare capabilities, Australia's Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said, a plan that was accelerated after an electronic attack on Australia's parliament and three largest political parties in 2019.
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Australia has never publicly disclosed who was responsible for the hack that came just ..
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