Executive Summary

The Australian Government's vision is for a safe, secure and prosperous Australia, Indo-Pacific and world enabled by cyberspace and critical technology.

The International Cyber and Critical Technology Engagement Strategy sets out Australia's interests and goals in pursuit of this vision, and provides a framework to guide Australia's whole-of-Government international engagement across the spectrum of cyber and critical technology issues.

To achieve our vision and navigate an increasingly challenging international environment, Australia must prioritise and enhance our international cyber and critical technology diplomacy.

The Strategy sets out how the Australian Government will pursue a strategic and coordinated national approach to shape cyberspace and critical technology in line with our interests and values, and build our international reputation as a trusted and influential leader on cyber and critical technology issues.

Critical Technologies

The Australian Government defines critical technologies as those technologies with the capacity to significantly enhance, or pose risks to, Australia's national interests, including our prosperity, social cohesion and national security.

This includes, but is not limited to, technologies (or applications of technologies) such as cyberspace, Artificial Intelligence (AI), 5G, Internet of Things (IOT), quantum computing and synthetic biology.

These, and other emerging technologies, will transform economic competitiveness, national and international security as well as democratic governance and social cohesion. These new technologies are often enabled by, and reliant on, information that is created, stored and transmitted through digital networks.

The Strategy identifies three main pillars – Values, Security and Prosperity – to guide Australia's international cyber and critical technology engagement (Refer to Figure 1).

  • Values – We will always pursue a values-based approach to cyberspace and critical technology, and oppose efforts to use technologies to undermine these values.
  • Security – We will always support international peace and stability, and secure, trusted and resilient technology.
  • Prosperity – We will always advocate for cyberspace and technology to foster sustainable economic growth and development to enhance prosperity.

These pillars are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. Within these pillars sit 15 chapters. These chapters focus in detail on specific themes, and outline what actions Australia will take to protect and promote our interests in these areas. An Action Plan supports the strategy. The plan demonstrates the breadth of work and interests across the Australian Government on cyber and critical technology.

 

Figure 1

Figure 1