Australian parliament hacked: China denies it was behind ‘sophisticated’ cyber attack

Beijing has slammed claims it was behind a “sophisticated” cyber attack on Australia’s political parties and parliament’s computer network, warning the “irresponsible’ accusations will heighten tensions between the two countries.

China has hit back at suggestions it was behind a “sophisticated” cyber attack on Australia’s political parties, warning “irresponsible” and “baseless” accusations will heighten tensions between the two countries.

China’s foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Beijing was firmly opposed to reports blaming the superpower for the breach, accusing media of undermining China’s relationship with Australia.

“One should present abundant evidence when investigating and determining the nature of a cyberspace activity, instead of making baseless speculations and firing indiscriminate shots at others,” he said.

“Irresponsible reports, accusations, pressurising and sanctions will only heighten tensions and confrontation in cyberspace and poison the atmosphere for cooperation.”

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Scott Morrison revealed details of the cyber attack yesterday, which affected parliament’s computer network, and major political parties. Picture: AAP/Mick Tsikas

It comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed yesterday that a “sophisticated state actor” was responsible for a cyber attack on Parliament’s computer network, as well as the Liberal, Labor and National Party platforms, in early February.

Mr Morrison reiterated this morning that the government was “not in a position” to attribute the cyber attack to any nation.

“You don’t go and make those claims wildly. I don’t have any information that would enable me to make that claim,” he told Melbourne radio 3AW.

He refused to speculate on a list of likely suspects.

Asked about Canberra’s relationship with Beijing, Mr Morrison said: “We work constructively with China. We have a very important relationship with China. And I’m very positive particularly about the economic growth of China.”

The Prime Minister said there was no evidence to show the personal details of voters had been accessed via the cyber attack on political parties.

“There is nothing to suggest that has occurred. Anything is possible, that doesn’t mean it’s happened,” he said.

Australian Cyber Security Centre boss Alastair MacGibbon has confirmed authorities don’t yet know who was behind the attack.

Security sources and cyber experts have indicated China could be the culprit, as one of the few countries with the capacity to conduct the “sophisticated” attack.

There is no evidence of an attempt to interfere in Australian elections. But the government has put measures in place to ensure the integrity of the system.

China’s foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Beijing was firmly opposed to reports blaming the superpower for the breach. Picture: AP/Andy Wong

Mr MacGibbon said his team had concluded it was a nation state, but were yet to work out which one.

“There are only a handful of states that can do this type of thing but it is hard for us to really come and definitively say who it is,” he told Sky News this morning.

“Because of the type of infrastructure used in this case and by their methodologies inside the system, they are confident it is a nation state. What we don’t know is who.”

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said there were only a small number of states who had the capacity for the attack.

“There’s no prospect of us attributing blame at this stage, that’s under investigation,” he told Sky.

Peter Dutton has dodged questions over a $420 million Manus Island security contract. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Mr Dutton has dodged questions over a $420 million Manus Island security contract awarded to a company registered to a beach shack, saying the spotlight on the contract was a Labor “distraction”.

Asked why Toll Holdings was not given the option of bidding for the contract, Mr Dutton told Channel Seven’s Sunrise program that the contract was “simply a distraction” from the backlash over Labor passing the refugee medevac bill last week.

Speculation about Chinese hacking comes as traders halt purchases of Australian coal and coking coal while clearing times through China’s customs have at least doubled to 40 days or more.

The four traders told Reuters on Monday only cargoes from Australia, the biggest supplier of the fuel to the world’s top consumer, were affected. Customs clearance typically takes five to 20 days. Now it can be as much as 45 days, said the manager, asking not to be identified.

Originally published as Australian parliament hacked: China denies it was behind ‘sophisticated’ cyber attack