Australia admits govt hack attacks, boosts cyber security

Australia unveiled a multi-billion-dollar cyber scheme to combat hacking on Thursday, as Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull acknowledged an attack on the country’s weather bureau last year but stopped short of blaming it on China.

The Australian leader added that it was safe to assume “efforts are made by foreign actors, both governmental and non-governmental, to penetrate” local agencies. 

“I can confirm reports that the Bureau of Meteorology suffered a significant cyber intrusion which was first discovered early last year, and the department of parliamentary services suffered a similar intrusion in recent years,” Turnbull said in Sydney as he announced Aus dollar 230 million ($180 million) in new government funding.

“I don’t have anything further to add than what I’ve said today,” he replied when asked at a press conference if the weather bureau attack came from China. Turnbull said the new funding, which comes on top of an allocation of Aus dollar 400 million over the next decade to strengthen cyber security, would include support for regular meetings between government, businesses and researchers on tackling emerging concerns.

The additional money would also help to boost international efforts, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, to take down cyber criminals.