Gov revamps cyber security leadership in ministerial shake-up

The federal government has named Tony Burke as its new minister for cyber security as well as Home Affairs, with incumbent Clare O’Neil moved to the housing portfolio.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a cabinet and ministerial shake-up on Sunday afternoon, after a week of speculation that changes were afoot.

Albanese said that it was the first major change to government personnel in two years.

“I would expect that this is the team that I will take to the election when it is held,” Albanese said. That is anticipated to be sometime next year. 

In addition to the cyber security and Home Affairs portfolios, Burke will also lead immigration and multicultural affairs, and remain minister of the arts and leader of the house.

Albanese also announced a new advisory role for MP Andrew Charlton, as “special envoy for cyber security and digital resilience”.

“This will be a special task that I’ve discussed with Andrew, as well as with Tony Burke, the minister for cyber security, and with Michelle Rowland, the minister for communications, about where Australia and indeed the world is going on the range of issues with technology changing the way that we relate to each other, the way that our entire society functions,” Albanese said.

“This is something that requires someone away from the day-to-day activity to give thought to how Australia positions ourselves to not only avoid some of the bad consequences which are there, but also seize the positive opportunities which are there as well. 

“Andrew Charlton is a great thinker, and he’s someone who I wanted to step up in this role.”

Clare O’Neil becomes the minister for housing and minister for homelessness.

O’Neil has had a high-profile role in the government, leading the cyber security portfolio through the Optus data breach and a subsequent string of high-profile incidents that affected large numbers of Australians.

She also headed the portfolio during a major revision of the federal government’s cyber security strategy, which is now being implemented.

Albanese also said Sunday that the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) will move out of Home Affairs and into the Attorney-General's department, to be closer to the Australian Federal Police.

He added in response to questions that he had not considered moving cyber security out of the Home Affairs portfolio at the same time.