The Hon. Anthony Albanese
Prime Minister of Australia
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra     ACT    2600

CC: The Hon. Clare O’Neil, Minister for Cybersecurity,

 Air Marshal Darren Goldie AM CSC, National Cyber Security Coordinator

Dear Prime Minister

We write expressing our serious concerns about cyber security risks to Australian charities and NFPs.

Every organisation in Australia is aware of the growing threat posed by bad actors seeking to exploit illegal access to information.

For businesses, including SMEs, your government has provided various programs and incentives to promote better data security and preparedness.  Most of these incentives are in the form of tax concessions and grants (e.g. The Cyber Security Business Connect and Protect Program, the Cyber Wardens program for small business).

The 2023 – 2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy discussion paper does not mention charities, not-for-profits, or community organisations, although it specifically mentions business 12 times and SMEs twice.

Governments across Australia do not always recognise the size and nature of the charities and not-for-profit sector.  Charities alone employ over 1.3 million workers or 10.5% of the Australian workforce, and contribute over 5% to GDP in our annual turnover of $190 billion.  Perhaps more importantly in the context of cybersecurity, charities hold extensive personal and financial information from millions of Australians.

Despite this massive footprint in our economy and in our lives, charities and not-for-profits have not been provided with the support they need to deal with an increasingly sophisticated level of cyber-attacks.  Unlike business, charities spend every spare dollar they can find on serving their communities.  Allocating more resources to strengthen cyber security would mean reducing the level of services available in our communities.  Many charities and NFPs struggle to withdraw services, even though cybersecurity is clearly an important priority.

There will be cyber-attacks on charities and there is real potential for certain kinds of attacks to significantly damage confidence and trust in our sector.  Cyber-attacks in our sector could also have devastating impacts on individuals and communities.

We ask that you consider providing increased support for charities across Australia to be able to review their current cybersecurity preparedness and to invest in better data security and protection.  This is no more than what your government is already providing to business.

Leaving charities to fend for themselves in dealing with the threat posed by global cyber-security attacks is not an acceptable policy approach.

We look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely

(signed) 

Rev Tim Costello AO, Chair, Community Council for Australia

David Crosbie, CEO, Community Council for Australia

22^nd of August 2023                   

Community Council for Australia Board of Directors 2023

Rev Tim Costello              CCA Chair

Claire Robbs                      CCA Deputy Chair and CEO, Life Without Barriers

Louise Baxter                    CEO, Starlight Children’s Foundation

Jon Bisset                           CEO, Community Broadcasting Association of Australia

Sharon Callister                CEO, Mission Australia

Anna Draffin                      CEO, Public Interest Journalism Initiative

Deirdre Cheers                 CEO, Barnardos Australia

Richard Mussell               CEO, RSPCA Australia

Mark Pearce                      CEO, Volunteering Australia

Marc Purcell                     CEO, Australian Council for International Development

Suzie Riddell                     CEO, Social Ventures Australia

Nicola Stokes                    General Manager, AMP Foundation

About CCA

The Community Council for Australia is an independent non-political member-based organisation dedicated to building flourishing communities by enhancing the extraordinary work undertaken by the charities and not-for-profit sector in Australia. CCA seeks to change the way governments, communities and not-for-profits relate to one another. It does so by providing a national voice and facilitation for sector leaders to act on common and shared issues affecting the contribution, performance and viability of NFPs in Australia.  This includes:

·         promoting the values of the sector and the need for reform

·         influencing and shaping relevant policy agendas

·         improving the way people invest in the sector

·         measuring and reporting success in a way that clearly articulates value

·         building collaboration and sector efficiency

·         informing, educating, and assisting organisations to build sustainable futures

·         providing a catalyst for the sector to work in partnership with government, business and the broader Australian community to achieve positive change.

Our success will drive a more sustainable and effective charities and not-for-profit sector in Australia making an increased contribution to the well-being and resilience of all our communities.