In a time of global uncertainty, where countries are facing a challenging geostrategic environment, the Australian Government is moving to protect the country with technology under the 2022-23 Federal Budget.
The government is taking action to improve the country’s defence capability by investing $575 billion in the nation’s Defence Force over the next decade and $270 billion for defence capability.
Part of the plan to improve the country’s defence capability is the $9.9 billion investment into intelligence and cyber capabilities, further enhancing the powers and capabilities of security agencies to combat cyber criminals.
This investment will also help in bolstering the government’s commitment to its international partners while supporting a secure Indo-Pacific region.
The AUKUS security partnership will leverage 75 years of working with the United States and the United Kingdom to promote security and prosperity. This partnership focuses on strengthening each country’s cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and additional undersea capabilities.
The Australian Government has also reinvigorated the Quad partnership with India, Japan and the United States, allowing the group to cooperate with one another on issues from space to critical technology to achieve its objective of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The 2022-23 Federal Budget also shows the Australian Government’s plans to deepen cooperation between allied countries through the Australia-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the intelligence-sharing Five Eyes alliance.
These action plans support the government’s 2020 Cyber Security Strategy, which set out a comprehensive $1.7 billion 10-year plan to achieve a more secure digital world for citizens, businesses and essential services.
Aside from the focus on improving the country’s cyber capabilities, the Australian Government has ensured that this year’s budget will see more funding towards having better preparation, responsiveness, and recovery from future natural disasters.
This follows the many communities across Australia that have been impacted by more intense and frequent natural disasters, such as the floods that occurred in NSW.
While $1.3 billion has been invested since the 2021‑22 Budget to implement recommendations of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, the government is also delivering a step-change in access to earth observation data.
This will include a $1.2 billion investment that will enhance the country’s space capability and develop Australian-made satellites. This will provide critical data for emergency responders in times of natural disaster, all while supporting more reliable weather forecasting and helping farmers manage land and water resources.
Source: Budget 2022-23. Content has been edited for style and length.