Unis explaining to the end on cyber security bill

The parliamentary committee inquiring into the cyber infrastructure security legislation is hearing evidence today and tomorrow – it’s another chance for HE lobbies to make concerns clear

Universities are caught by the legislation with their warnings that it is expansive, and overly intrusive ignored last year as the Department of Home Affairs pushed its bill into the House of Reps, (CMM, December 1 2020, February 15).

But just before Christmas then attorney general Christian Porter referred the legislation to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security – which will hear tomorrow from some of the wonkiest of HE policy people.

Matthew Brown (deputy CEO) from the Group of Eight is on the bill – presumably his boss, Vicki Thomson is taking her annual day off. Catriona Jackson from Universities Australia will appear, as will Luke Sheehy, ED of the Australian Technology Network and Conor King (Innovative Research Universities).