Home Affairs Establishes Cyber & Infrastructure Security Group
28 March 23
A Cyber and Infrastructure Security Group (CISG) will be established next month by the Department of Home Affairs.
To be established in May, the group will be responsible for implementing the new Australian Cyber Security Strategy 2023–2030 and will specifically work to support Home Affairs and Cyber Security Minister Clare O’Neil and a cyber security coordinator that is yet to be appointed.
A new role has been established to lead the new group, with the Australian Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre’s (CISC) inaugural head Hamish Hansford being appointed deputy secretary.
“A new Cyber and Infrastructure Security Group will be created on May 1, under the leadership of Hamish Hansford in a new deputy secretary position,” said secretary Michael Pezzullo during his speech at the Home Affairs cyber and infrastructure security conference last week.
“I would like to formally congratulate Mr Hansford on his appointment.
“I would also like to announce that Marc Ablong will be moving from his role as deputy secretary strategic initiatives to undertake a secondment to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, commencing on May 1, contributing to dedicated research on Australia’s national security.”
In addition to its role in implementing the new cyber security strategy, Pezullo has said that the group will be responsible for leading securing partnerships between government and industry, ensuring that the two “work together on hardening Australian infrastructure and our economy from cyber attacks and from other hazards”.
Other roles will include running “scenario-based exercises” as well as cyber incident responses in coordination with the new cyber security coordinator role.
While the new coordinator is yet to be announced, Pezullo has said that “the national cyber security coordinator will perform a key role in supporting the minister to deliver on a raft of major reforms in the area of cyber security.
“The coordinator will deliver a centrally coordinated approach to the government’s cyber security responsibilities and initiatives and will be instrumental in driving leadership in the Australian government to develop strategic national security capability that underpins our future prosperity,” he said.
“This will result in a more coordinated approach across the Australian public service to deliver the government’s cyber security priorities and initiatives.”
Source: Cyber Security Connect