Stay Smart Online Week 2019

Joint media release

• Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon. Peter Dutton MP

Today marks the start of Stay Smart Online Week, the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s annual initiative to raise awareness about online security and the impact of cybercrime on our community.

Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Peter Dutton MP said cyber security has never been more important to Australia’s economic prosperity and national security.

“The Morrison Government is committed to fighting cybercrime with dedicated Australian Federal Police Cybercrime Teams working nationally and globally, assessing, investigating and disrupting cybercrime,” Minister Dutton said.

“How the Government can better protect Australians from cybercrime is part of the national conversation we are having as we develop the 2020 Cyber Security Strategy.”

Cyber security incidents cost Australian businesses up to $29 billion each year, with almost one in three Australian adults impacted by cybercrime in 2018. 

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said all governments, industry and individuals must be proactive about protecting themselves online.

“The Australian Cyber Security Centre sees hundreds of reports daily from businesses, families and individuals who have fallen victim to scams, ransomware, sophisticated fraud or the theft of their intellectual property,” Minister Reynolds said.

“We want to reverse these statistics, but this is a challenge that can only be overcome by working together.”

Stay Smart Online Week runs from 7 to 13 October 2019.

For more information on what you can do to help reverse the threat of cybercrime visit www.staysmartonline.gov.au/reversethethreat.