PROTECTING OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

The 2004-05 Federal Budget provides $5.5 million over four years to support portfolio aspects of the Government's Critical Infrastructure Protection strategy, including the Trusted Information Sharing Network (TISN).

Overall, the Critical Infrastructure Protection strategy has been allocated Budget funding of $50.2 million over four years.

The TISN allows owners and operators of critical infrastructure to share information on issues related to the protection of critical infrastructure within and between their respective industry sectors.

These issues include business continuity, consequence management, information system vulnerabilities and attacks, e-crime and the protection of key sites.

This funding will be used to assist the telecommunications (including Internet service providers), broadcasting and postal industries to improve the protection of Australia's communications infrastructure through improved information sharing and cooperation.

Specifically this funding will be used to:

• provide secretariat and other support to the Communications Sector Infrastructure Assurance Advisory Group (CSIAAG) which brings together owners and operators of Australia's communications sector infrastructure in a trusted forum; and to
• promote Critical Infrastructure Protection within the communications sector, improve industry coordination, contribute to the activities of Critical Infrastructure Advisory Council (CIAC) and the National Counter Terrorism Committee and related groups.
• The funding will also be used to:
• support an Information Technology Security Experts Advisory Group to advise CIAC on cyber aspects of critical infrastructure protection; and
• conduct computer network vulnerability testing activities in national information infrastructure sectors where e-security defences are tested in a controlled environment.

The Australian Broadcasting Authority will also receive $0.3 million (of the $5.5 million provided) to assist in developing and maintaining effective communications mechanisms with broadcast operators for critical infrastructure protection coordination.

The Government is committed to the protection of our communications infrastructure and this funding will help to coordinate efforts across the Australian industry.