PM names new cybersecurity minister

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has named a new minister for home affairs and for cybersecurity. Tony Burke will take on the responsibility along with immigration and multicultural affairs; arts; and leader of the House.

The cabinet change announced on Sunday comes two years after Clare O’Neil was appointed and having cybersecurity as a standalone portfolio. There were also numerous cyber attacks and data breaches during the period, including four of the largest ones in Australia’s history — Optus, Medibank, Latitude and MediSecure.

Albanese also appointed Andrew Charlton as special envoy for cyber security and digital resilience. In a press conference the PM said: “This will be a special task that I’ve discussed with Andrew, as well as with Tony Burke, the Minister for Cybersecurity, and with Michelle Rowland, the Minister for Communications, about where Australia, and indeed the world, is going on the range of issues with technology changing the way that we relate to each other, the way that our entire society functions. This is something that requires someone away from the day-to-day activity to give thought to how Australia positions ourselves to not only avoid some of the bad consequences which are there, but also sees the positive opportunities which are there as well.”

“Andrew Charlton is a great thinker and he’s someone who I wanted to step up in this role,” the PM said. “These combined changes, I think, represent a significant move forward.”

Clare O’Neil has been appointed minister for housing and for homelessness.