In the final weekdays before Christmas, we have a bunch of reports, although we only get to see the ASD’s government cybersecurity posture review. It contains depressing news.
Here are the digital developments from Canberra I’ve noticed since the previous edition on 16 December. Some of these in fact appeared that afternoon, but too late for me to include last week.
- We have The Commonwealth Cyber Security Posture in 2022 from the Australian Signals Directorate. You’ll be thrilled to hear that most government agencies don’t have proper access controls to make sure computer access is removed when employees leave.
- “A $2 million review of Australia’s defence innovation system looks unlikely to ever be released after the former Coalition government sat on it for five months and the Department of Defence withholds it from the Albanese government,” reports InnovationAus. I’m not sure how the government can refuse to give a government report to, you know, the government but that’s where we are.
- “After three years, the Privacy Act Review commissioned under the Coalition government has been completed and the final report handed to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus,” reports InnovationAus. “The Attorney General will now consider the review over the summer and is expected to release it publicly alongside the government’s response in the first half of 2023.” Whole that feels slow, it does mean this isn’t another rush job. Probably.
- The Treasury Laws Amendment (2022 Measures No. 4) Bill 2022, which includes the Digital Games Tax Offset, is still being considered by the Senate Economics Legislation Committee. They’re now expected to report by 3 March 2023.
- Ditto for the Treasury Laws Amendment (Modernising Business Communications and Other Measures) Bill 2022 will allow businesses and regulators to use electronic signatures and hold virtual meeting as a regular thing, not just during the pandemic.
Please let me know if I’ve missed anything, or if there’s any specific items you’d like me to follow.
Parliament is scheduled (PDF) to return on Monday 6 February 2023, but I’ll post the next of these summaries on Friday 13 January.
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[Photo: Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus KC.]