‘State actor’ responsible for cyber attack likely to stay a secret

A confidential report into a cyber attack on parliamentary systems by a ‘sophisticated state actor’ is likely to remain secret.

A confidential report into a cyber attack on parliamentary systems in February by a “sophisticated state actor” is likely to remain ­secret, according to Senate president Scott Ryan.

Senator Ryan said he received the report into the hack last week and was awaiting a “lay language” briefing on its contents before any future potential update.

Scott Morrison told parliament in February that the computer networks of Australia’s major political parties were the subject of the cyber attack by a “sophisticated state actor”.

Previously Australia has blamed China and Russia for cyber attacks and China in February ­rejected suggestions that its agencies were behind the attack on federal parliament.

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Appearing before a Senate estimates hearing, Senator Ryan said he did not believe the report into the hack “will be appropriate for redaction or publication”.

“I am not convinced that publishing the report I have received, even in redacted form, will be helpful,” he said. “It is purely a personal view — I haven’t discussed it with the Speaker or officials.”

Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick asked Senator Ryan to name the “sophisticated state actor” behind the attack.

However, Senator Ryan declined to name which country was behind the attack. “I don’t think that these matters are appropriately canvassed in these public ­forums,” he said.

Reuters reported last month that Australian intelligence agencies determined China was responsible for the attack. According to Reuters, Australia’s cyber intelligence agency, the Australian Signals Directorate, concluded in March that China’s Ministry of State Security was responsible but government agencies recommended keeping the findings secret.