Australia, New Zealand vow joint response to cyber threats under ANZUS

Australia and New Zealand have moved to modernise the nations’ defence alliance, declaring a major cyber strike on either country would be treated as an armed attack under the ANZUS Treaty.

Anthony Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon shake hands at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Australia and New Zealand have moved to modernise the nations’ defence alliance, declaring a major cyber strike on either country would be treated as an armed attack under the ANZUS Treaty, requiring a joint response “to meet the common danger”.

In annual leaders’ talks on Friday, Anthony Albanese and New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon also pledged to purchase the same military hardware whenever possible, opening the prospect that Wellington could buy Australian-built general purpose frigates.

Prime Minister Luxon pressed Mr Albanese on his policy backflip to restart deportations of New Zealand-born criminals after a furore over the government’s “Direction 99” policy that allowed foreign offenders to keep their visas.

Mr Albanese said Australia would take a “common sense” approach on which criminals it sent back, accusing a New Zealand reporter of taking a “provocative tone” for suggesting the policy was “contributing to New Zealand’s crime and gang problem”.

“Australia’s job is, of course, to look after our national interest. We say that the safety of Australians is the number one consideration,” Prime Minister Albanese said.

Amid growing concerns over the threat of crippling cyber strikes, the leaders confirmed such attacks would trigger the nations’ treaty obligations under ANZUS.

“Warfare has changed and cyber warfare is a large part,” Mr Luxon said. “We are making sure (the alliance) is modern and reflective of the environment we operate in.”

The change will ensure New Zealand - which has no other formal allies - has access to the Australian Signals Directorate’s world-leading offensive and defensive cyber capabilities if its networks suffer a major attack.

Mr Albanese said: “An attack on the economy can bring down the operation of an entire society … so we need to prepare for all of these issues and modernise and make sure the agreement we have reflects modern issues.”

In a joint statement, the leaders lashed Beijing’s “dangerous, destabilising and provocative behaviour” in the South China Sea, and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

It was Mr Luxon’s first official visit to Australia since the Albanese government axed its ‘Direction 99’ policy. Picture: Tracey Nearmy / AFP

As New Zealand embarks on a major defence review, Mr Luxon said he wanted his country’s military to be “fully interoperable” with Australia’s.

“We want to be a force multiplier for Australia and by making sure that we can do things like joint procurement,” he said.

Despite his country’s antinuclear stance, Mr Luxon said the AUKUS pact “would enhance regional security and stability”.

He confirmed New Zealand was considering a future role in the pact’s so-called Pillar II technology-sharing partnership that will focus on artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonic weapons and underwater drones.

Mr Albanese said New Zealand’s participation in the partnership “makes sense” and would be considered for involvement on a “case-by-case basis” like Japan and other key partners.

Welcome back to Australia, Prime Minister @chrisluxonmp. Australia and New Zealand are closer than friends – we are family. 🇦🇺🇳🇿 pic.twitter.com/NfLil5TFOP

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) August 16, 2024

“We share very much common values and we share common objectives, and it is not surprising we will look at any opportunity for including New Zealand in Pillar II.”

The prospect that New Zealand acquiring military hardware in co-operation with Australia offered “enormous” efficiencies, Mr Albanese said, as the government examines bids by international shipbuilders for the right to build the navy’s $10bn general purpose frigates.

Australia will purchase 11 of the vessels, but the program could be expanded if New Zealand opts into the program, bringing down the costs for each vessel.

New Zealand’s navy has two ageing Anzac-class frigates built in the 1990s under a joint program with Australia.

It was Mr Luxon’s third official visit to Australia since the former airline chief was elected Prime Minister in November last year, but his first since the Albanese government axed its “Direction 99” undertaking to refrain from deporting foreign-born criminals “who have lived in the Australian community for most of their life”.

Mr Luxon said in June that it was “just not right” for Australia to deport those with little connection to New Zealand.

The change came after The Australian revealed dozens of criminals including rapists, drug traffickers, money launderers and repeat domestic violence perpetrators had been allowed to remain in Australia as a result of the ministerial direction.