The cyber crime fighting hub — to be based in the AFP’s NSW headquarters —has received $89 million in funding via the Commonwealth government’s $1.67 billion Cyber Security Strategy.

The new centre will be supported by a ‘National Plan to Combat Cybercrime’, endorsed by Commonwealth, state and territory police ministers.

The plan aims to foster industry growth online, bolster confidence in the digital economy, and ensure safe online spaces for children, while also boosting crime detection and law enforcement capabilities.

This underpinned by three key pillars:

1. Prevention and protection;
2. Investigation, disruption and prosecution; and
3. Recovery.

“During the pandemic, cyber crime became one of the fastest growing and most prolific forms of crime committed against Australians. The tools and the techniques used to rob or extort Australians became more effective and more freely available than ever before,” Minister Andrews said.

“… I’m serious about enforcing the law and protecting Australia’s digital future, which is why the Plan is backed up by the resources, intelligence, and capabilities of a new AFP-led cyber crime centre.

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“Using far-reaching Commonwealth legislation and high-end technical capabilities, the AFP’s new cyber crime centre will aggressively target cyber threats, shut them down, and bring offenders to justice.”

These latest initiatives build on a number of recent reforms announced as part of the government’s cyber security strategy, which include introducing a Ransomware Action Plan, proposing critical infrastructure legislation, and ramping up collaboration with international counterparts in the UK and the US.

Charbel Kadib

Author

News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media

Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.

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