Australia launches cybersecurity campaign with budget of A$230 million
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who faces an election in July, is trying to position himself as a leader who can transform Australia into a tech-savvy business hub.
Australia set out a far-reaching cybersecurity strategy on Thursday, invoking the leaks of United States whistle-blower Edward Snowden, terrorism and even the threat of war to push for a coordinated global approach to protection of online data.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who faces an election in July amid waning popularity, is trying to position himself as a leader who can transform Australia into a tech-savvy business hub as its economy deals with a commodities downturn.
In a speech in Sydney, the former online entrepreneur said hacking attacks cost the country A$1 billion a year and unveiled a long list of measures – from appointing his own special cybersecurity adviser to having internet safety taught in schools – to make the online world freer and safer.
“There’s no global institution or infrastructure more important to the future prosperity and freedom of our global community than the internet itself,” Turnbull said, noting the internet had spread “almost entirely without the direction or control of government”.
There’s no global institution or infrastructure more important to the future prosperity and freedom of our global community than the internet
“The same qualities that enable us freely to harness cyberspace for prosperity can also provide an avenue for those who may wish to do us harm,” he said.