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The intensity and frequency of state-sponsored cyber attacks on individuals and organisations within Australia has been compared to a bombing blitz.
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Speaking during Question Time on Wednesday (30 March), Minister for Defence Peter Dutton flagged the growing risks associated with a ramp up in state-sponsored cyber attacks.
Minister Dutton said Iranian, North Korean, Russian, and Chinese actors have been targeting Australian individuals and organisations “each day”.
“Whilst Australians may not see the activity online every day, our country is already under attack online,” he said.
The minister noted the impact of cyber breaches on critical infrastructure in other jurisdictions, undermining water supply, energy, and telecommunication networks.
He went on to reference remarks from Commander of the UK's Strategic Command, General Sir Patrick Sanders, who has likened the prevalence of state-sponsored malicious cyber activity to an air raid.
“If this was an air war, it would be the Blitz…” Sir Patrick has said.
“…Unlike the Blitz, there’s no physical destruction [so] thankfully it’s bloodless but the intensity and the frequency of the attacks are on the same scale and if we let too many so-called bombers and their payloads through then it will sow the seeds of defeat.
“Not immediately, but slowly, insidiously, corrosively and inevitably.”
Minister Dutton added that a failure to invest in Australia’s cyber defences could have “catastrophic consequences”.
His remarks follow the release of the 2022-23 budget, in which the government announced Project REDSPICE (Resilience, Effects, Defence, Space, Intelligence, Cyber, and Enablers) — a $9.9 billion investment over the next decade in the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD).
The project aims to bolster the ASD’s offensive cyber capabilities and strengthen its detection and response network.
This is tipped to almost double the size of the agency, generating over 1,900 jobs.
“…Australians understand the investment that we've made into nuclear-propelled submarines, and the money we're putting into tanks, additional staff within the Australian Defence Force, and additional fighter jets...” Minister Dutton said.
“This is the latest instalment in our plan to keep Australians safe.”
[Related: Budget 2022-23 released, Defence strategy unveiled]
