The Daily Telegraph editorial: China suspected culprit in Australian political cyber attack

When knowledge is power, inside knowledge is power magnified. Awareness of confidential government and party information can not only compromise security, it can also lead to sabotage, blackmail and general economic instability.

The nature of international conflict has permanently changed.

In 1941, Japan attacked what it believed to be America’s most vulnerable point — its battle fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor.

But the Japanese did not reckon upon America’s phenomenal economy and capacity for construction, which were its real strengths.

By the end of WWII, the US Navy had increased its fleet size by more than 1200 major battleships. A weakness had, through necessity, become an overwhelming strength.

In 2019, a similar strategy is needed if Western powers are to repel attacks on vital computer networks. Those Western powers include Australia.

“The Australian Cyber Security Centre recently identified a malicious intrusion into the Australian Parliament House computer network,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison told parliament yesterday.

“We also became aware that the networks of some political parties — Liberal, Labor and Nationals — have also been ­affected. Our security agencies have detected this activity and acted decisively to confront it. Our cyber experts believe that a sophisticated state actor is ­responsible for this.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison makes a statement on cyber security in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday. Picture: AAP

When knowledge is power, inside knowledge is power magnified. Awareness of confidential government and party information can not only compromise security, it can also lead to sabotage, blackmail and general economic instability.

Multiple and co-ordinated cyber attacks may potentially lead to market fractures on a nationally destructive scale.

Yet the detection of and response to these attacks are made enormously difficult by the bewilderingly shadowy nature of global cyber crime.

To see where we are in the conflict, it might be an idea to re-examine former US vice president Donald Rumsfeld’s doctrine of knowing.

“There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know,” Rumsfeld once said.

“There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. These are things we don't know we don't know.”

That final category is the most concerning of all.

And in the case of Australian computer intrusions, we may not know what our online ­enemies already know about us.

Ambos grant a dying wish

A final act of kindness from big-hearted ambulance officers saw Carmen Leon de la Barra leave this world in a state of bliss.

The Chilean immigrant to Australia had developed an almost religious devotion to the beach at Brighton-Le-Sands since moving to Australia in 1989.

Carmen Leon de la Barra was given her dying wish to be by the beach.

Recently brought down by cancer, Mrs Leon de la Barra most likely would have been denied a last glimpse of her favourite Sydney sight if it were not for the work of NSW Ambulance paramedics. They took Mrs Leon de la Barra on a journey to Brighton-Le-Sands.

God bless them. Each and every one.

Milk war ceasefire called

There are losers in every war. This sometimes applies, too, in discount wars.

Supermarket chains have recently faced consumer anger over ultra-low milk prices. Consumers generally complain about higher prices, but in this example grievances ran deeper.

By driving down its milk prices, supermarkets were also cutting into the profit margin available to milk producers. Considering the reward of lower prices against preserving Australian farming jobs, many consumers called for the latter.

And now we have one of the rarest outcomes in grocery history — a price rise at Woolworths that will most likely be applauded by consumers hoping for improved farming finances.

NSW Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair now calls for Aldi and Coles to follow suit.

“Woolworths has taken an important step in recognising the damage done to the dairy industry with $1 per litre milk,” Minister Blair announced.

He concluded: “It devalues the product and sends a misleading message to consumers.”

And consumers have sent a message straight back.

The Daily Telegraph, printed and published by the proprietor, Nationwide News Pty Ltd A.C.N. 008438828 of 2 Holt St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, at 26-52 Hume Highway, Chullora. Responsibility for election comment is taken by the Editor, Ben English.