Australian Government: Attorney-General's Department
Australian Government: Attorney-General's DepartmentAchieving a Just and Secure Society

Critical Infrastructure Protection Branch

The Critical Infrastructure Protection Branch is responsible for two key policy areas:

  1. critical infrastructure resilience, and
  2. protective security.

Critical infrastructure resilience

On 30 June 2010, the Australian Government launched its Critical Infrastructure Resilience Strategy.

The Branch coordinates the implementation of the strategy, which is delivered by a number of Australian Government agencies.

In addition, the Branch develops national policy on critical infrastructure resilience and coordinates some aspects of critical infrastructure policies between all levels of government. It also manages the Trusted Information Sharing Network (TISN) for Critical Infrastructure Resilience, which facilitates cooperation between business and government on security issues relevant to the protection and resilience of our critical infrastructure and the continuity of essential services in the face of all hazards.

For more information refer to the TISN website.

Protective security policy

The Attorney-General is responsible for setting protective security policy for the Australian Government. This policy provides direction and guidance on the protection of people, information and assets.

The Attorney-General’s Department develops this policy in consultation with the Protective Security Policy Committee (PSPC). The PSPC is a high-level interdepartmental committee tasked with critically analysing, developing and reforming whole of government protective security policy and procedures.

Sections in the Branch

  • Critical Infrastructure Policy
  • National Security Business Partnerships
  • Protective Security Policy

The Critical Infrastructure Policy Section is responsible for the development of national policy relating to the resilience of Australia’s critical infrastructure. It works with stakeholders including members of the TISN, state and territory governments and the National Counter-Terrorism Committee (NCTC) to develop, refine and coordinate the policies and projects that will deliver the enhanced resilience of critical infrastructure.

The National Security Business Partnerships Section is responsible for managing the overall ‘health’ of the business-government partnership for critical infrastructure resilience, and communicating the critical infrastructure resilience work of the Branch and the TISN to all key stakeholders. It facilitates relationships between Australian Government agencies and all TISN stakeholders. The section also provides secretariat support to the Critical Infrastructure Advisory Council, the Banking and Finance Sector Group, the Water Services Sector Group, and the Business Government Advisory Group on National Security.

The Protective Security Policy Section in consultation with the PSPC and other stakeholders, develops and disseminates protective security policy and advice including promoting consistent application of these policies and advice in Australian Government agencies. A current major focus of the Section is undertaking the review of protective security policy and promulgating the findings of the review.