Australia announces $1.35 billion investment in cyber security
Country will spend $1.35B to enhance cyber security capabilities over the next decade

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced today an AU$1.35 billion (US$930 million) investment in cyber security.
The Cyber Enhanced Situational Awareness and Response (CESAR) package will work towards enhancing the country’s cybersecurity capabilities over the next ten years. The investment comes at a time when Australia is seeing an increase in the frequency, scale and sophistication of malicious cyber activity.
The CESAR package will include an AU$470 million (US$323 million) investment in the country’s cyber security workforce. This investment will result in the creation of over 500 new jobs in the country.
CESAR will also include an AU$78 million (US$53.6 million) investment in technology that’s able to disrupt and defeat malicious cyber activity along with an AU$200 million (US$137 million) investment focused on enhancing Australia’s understanding of malicious cyber activity as well as how best to identify and respond to emerging cyber threats.
“The Federal Government’s top priority is protecting our nation’s economy, national security and sovereignty. Malicious cyber activity undermines that,” Prime Minister Morrison stated.
“My Government’s record investment in our nation’s cybersecurity will help ensure we have the tools and capabilities we need to fight back and keep Australians safe,” he continued.
The Minister for Defence Senator Linda Reynolds added that such a massive investment in preventing and addressing cyber threats within the country would have a genuine impact on the cyber security of all Australians.
Get the ITPro daily newsletter
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
“The package will put our nation on the front foot in combating cyber threats and our investment in a cybersecurity workforce will help ensure we have the people we need to meet future cyber challenges,” Senator Reynolds explained.
The remaining details of what the CESAR package entails will be included in the country’s 2020 Cyber Security Strategy. This strategy will build on Australia’s $230 million 2016 Cyber Security Strategy as well as its $156 million 2019 cybersecurity election commitment.
-
PyPI attack: Targeting of repository 'shows no sign of stopping'
News Greater collaboration and understanding of attackers’ tactics is key to mitigating open source security threats
By Ross Kelly
-
Capita's handling of cyber attack shows companies still fail at breach reporting
Analysis Capita initially told customers there was “no evidence” of data having been compromised in the March cyber attack
By Ross Kelly
-
Malware being pushed to businesses by search engines remains a pervasive threat
News High-profile malvertising campaigns in recent months have surged
By Ross Kelly
-
There's only one way to avoid credential stuffing attacks
Opinion PayPal accounts were breached last year due to a credential stuffing attack, but can PayPal avoid taking responsibility?
By Davey Winder
-
Five things to consider before choosing an MFA solution
In-depth Because we all should move on from using “password” as a password
By Rene Millman
-
Cyber security suffers from a communication problem
News Negative language around ‘human failures’ is eroding trust between security teams and broader business functions - it has to stop
By Ross Kelly
-
Does LastPass really deserve a last chance?
Opinion After several disastrous security incidents and a communications breakdown, it’s time to leave LastPass for pastures new
By Ross Kelly
-
What is the spell-jacking vulnerability and how can your business avoid exposing data?
In-depth Spell-jacking vulnerabilities are threatening to unwittingly leak data to third parties, undermining any drive to protect privacy
By Davey Winder