The Drum Awards for Marketing - Extended Deadline

-d -h -min -sec

Australian Government announces National Plan to Combat Cybercrime

Author

By Steven Raeburn, N/A

July 30, 2013 | 3 min read

Australia’s Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus QC has announced what is described as a “comprehensive plan for a more collaborative national effort to tackle cybercrime.”

Mark Dreyfus QC

He said the programme would ensure Australia became a harder target for sophisticated cybercriminals.

In March, Australia became a party to the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, the world's first international treaty on online crime.

Argentina, Canada, Israel and South Africa are among those who have signed the convention, but not yet ratified it.

"This plan represents a national commitment to work together to ensure a safer and more secure digital environment for all Australians," he said.

"While it brings tremendous benefits, the internet has created new opportunities for financially motivated cyber criminals and those who seek to target vulnerable members of our community.

"Organised criminals are increasingly using the internet and legitimate communications tools to target Australians and to facilitate their illegal activities."

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General, Shayne Neumann, said the cost of cybercrime to Australia was “in the billions” in dollars per year.

"As a key initiative under the National Plan to Combat Cybercrime, governments will implement a national online reporting facility for cybercrime," he said.

"This will be called the Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network or ACORN.

"ACORN will make it easier for the public to report cybercrime, get the information they need to protect themselves and ensure that agencies can respond quickly.

"It will also provide a clearer picture of the cybercrime affecting Australians, which will help ensure agencies' responses are as effective as possible."

Trending

Industry insights

View all
Add your own content +