Experts reject government’s cyberattack IT takeover plan

Tess Bennett, Paul Smith and Tom McIlroy

Feb 27, 2023 – 6.21pm

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Cybersecurity experts have warned that a government plan to let national security agencies commandeer companies’ IT systems following a cyberattack would harm organisations’ ability to recover quickly, and do nothing to stop the rising problems posed by hackers.

On Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hosted a roundtable in Sydney with business and government leaders, to discuss the appointment of a new national cybersecurity co-ordinator to sit within the Home Affairs department, and to begin work on a new cybersecurity strategy.

Tess Bennett is a technology reporter with The Australian Financial Review, based in the Brisbane newsroom. She was previously the work & careers reporter.

Paul Smith edits the technology coverage and has been a leading writer on the sector for 20 years. He covers big tech, business use of tech, the fast-growing Australian tech industry and start-ups, telecommunications and national innovation policy.

Tom McIlroy is the Financial Review’s Canberra bureau chief based in the press gallery at Parliament House. He was previously the AFR’s political correspondent.