Australia launches plan to combat cybercrime

CANBERRA -- The Australian government has launched a plan for a more collaborative national effort to tackle cybercrime, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus announced in a statement on Monday.

According to the statement, the National Plan to Combat Cybercrime commits Australian governments to take concrete steps against cybercrime.

This plan builds on the National Security Strategy which identified malicious online actors as a key threat to Australia's social and economic well-being and supports the Government's goal of becoming a world leading digital economy by 2020.

Mark Dreyfus confirmed that the plan would ensure Australia to become a harder target for sophisticated cybercriminals.

According to him, organized criminals are increasingly using the internet and legitimate communications tools to target Australians and to facilitate their illegal activities.

"This plan represents a national commitment to work together to ensure a safer and more secure digital environment for all Australians," Dreyfus said.

"While it brings tremendous benefits, the internet has created new opportunities for financially motivated cyber criminals and those who seek to target vulnerable members of our community."

Australia became a party to the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime in March, the world's first international treaty on online crime.

Joining the Convention ensured that Australian agencies can collaborate more effectively with international counterparts under the National Plan to Combat Cybercrime, Mark Dreyfus said.