Security News > 2020 > August > Australian government wants power to run cyber-response for businesses under attack
Australia's government has proposed giving itself the power to take over private enterprises' response to cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure.
The government proposes to develop baselines that critical industries can use to help them meet their obligations.
"In an emergency, we see a role for Government to use its enhanced threat picture and unique capabilities to take direct action to protect a critical infrastructure entity or system in the national interest," the paper suggests.
Justin Warren, an Australian IT consultant who serves global clients and is a keen observer of Australian government IT policy, believes the document over-reaches.
Noting recent flimsy government oversight of other sectors in Australia, and harm that followed, he also raised the point that if infrastructure is sufficiently critical that it must be forced to comply with government regulations and permit government intervention, it should perhaps be run by the government.