Eden-Monaro MP Mike Kelly says he was involved in “appropriate oversight” measures being added to the federal government’s new sabotage laws.
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The new Security of Critical Infrastructure Act now allows Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton to demand infrastructure operators take steps to mitigate possible national security threats including sabotage, espionage and coercion.
The laws, which came into effect on July 11, have been created as Australian ports, dams, power grids and other utilities connect to the internet, and systems are increasingly being built with parts bought from overseas supply chains, the government says.
Dr Kelly, a member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, said a number of alterations to the proposed legislation were put forward by Labor committee members before it was put to parliament.
“Along with other Labor members of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, we worked to include a number of recommended changes to the proposed legislation to make it more effective in both protecting Australia’s critical infrastructure from threats, while also ensuring appropriate oversights were put in place,” Dr Kelly said.
“Recommendations, which received bipartisan support, included important review and appeal mechanisms.
“On the basis of these recommendations being accepted by the government, Labor supported passage of the legislation through parliament.”
The act will see the creation of a register containing a list of what the government sees as the assets most at risk assets, and allow operators six months to provide detailed information on who owns, controls and has access to the infrastructure and its systems.
“Secure and resilient infrastructure supports productivity, and helps to drive the business activity that underpins economic growth,” the government said.
“Critical infrastructure is important to all Australians as it provides services that are essential for everyday life such as energy, food, water, transport, communications, health and banking and finance.
“This act will ensure the Australian government knows who owns and operates our most critical infrastructure assets and is able to mitigate any identified national security risks.”