Australia expands regional cybersecurity support and warnings

Australian authorities and industry experts are warning small to medium-sized businesses about the increasing severity of cyber threats. During a House of Representatives select committee inquiry in Canberra, the Insurance Council of Australia noted that small businesses lack the resources of larger organizations to recover from attacks, making the financial impact relatively higher. Research from QBE Insurance suggests only about 20 percent of small or medium-sized Australian businesses hold cyber insurance, compared to 70 to 75 percent of large organizations.

On a regional level, Australia has committed an additional $150 million to support digital security and resilience in Fiji. Australian High Commissioner to Fiji Peter Roberts emphasized the need for collective action as Fiji becomes a major regional digital hub. Efforts include establishing a Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) in Fiji and conducting threat assessments through the company CyberCX. The initiative aims to strengthen digital security across the Pacific, including Papua New Guinea, to protect essential services and communities as connectivity expands.