The original bill from Home Affairs when Peter Dutton was minister, concentrated authority in the department to protect critical infrastructure from cyber-attack

It’s ambitions were criticised widely, loudly and at length, including by universities (CMM September 30 2021). The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security got involved and reported it, “received extensive evidence in submissions and at public hearings that many companies, industry bodies or stakeholders did not feel like their input or feedback had been actioned or acknowledged.”

The PJCIS suggested splitting the legislation in two, allowing for consideration of the second  bill, which covers universities, although nowhere as intently as originally intended.

And lo, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews has now brought forward a second bill, which the Group of Eight, in the argument from the start, urges parliament to pass.