Response to The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet's discussion paper "Connecting with Confidence"

Abstract

The ACS has prepared this response to the discussion paper to assist with the design of the cyber whitepaper expected in 2012. The ACS also welcomes the opportunity to promote discussion and support of our digital economy to position Australia for the future. Drawing from its membership of ICT professionals, and academics - particularly in areas of cyber resilience and security - the ACS established a Cyber Taskforce for this purpose. The ACS recommends: greater focus on education - noting that ICT education in primary and secondary schooling is essential - to developing ICT skills of the future and that school level educational activity forms the base on which appropriate tertiary level education programs can function for the education and training of ICT professionals; greater assistance to small and medium sized business as this is the engine room of the Australian economy; policy coordination on trusted identities; better coordination of cyber related education and research; providing consumers and businesses with resources directed to the everyday real-life challenges they face; global Internet governance changes designed to underpin and deliver trustworthy people, processes and systems including, where appropriate, a legislated mandatory baseline of trustworthiness attributes analogous to the non-excludable warranties implied in consumer contacts