Cyber Security Act 2024
34Meaning of significant cyber security incident
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34 Meaning of significant cyber security incident
A cyber security incident is a significant cyber security incident if:
(a) there is a material risk that the incident has seriously prejudiced, is seriously prejudicing, or could reasonably be expected to prejudice:
(iii) national security; or
(b) the incident is, or could reasonably be expected to be, of serious concern to the Australian people.
Division 2—Voluntary information sharing with the National Cyber Security Coordinator
35 Impacted entity may voluntarily provide information to National Cyber Security Coordinator in relation to a significant cyber security incident
(b) the incident is a cyber security incident; and
(c) the incident has had, is having, or could reasonably be expected to have, a direct or indirect impact on an entity (the impacted entity); and
(d) the impacted entity is:
(i) carrying on a business in Australia; or
(ii) a responsible entity for a critical infrastructure asset to which the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 applies.
(2) The impacted entity, or another entity acting on behalf of the impacted entity, may provide information about the incident to the National Cyber Security Coordinator if:
(a) the incident is a significant cyber security incident; or
(b) the incident could reasonably be expected to be a significant cyber security incident.
Note 1: For information provided in relation to other kinds of cyber security incidents: see sections 36 and 39.
Note 2: This subsection constitutes an authorisation for the National Cyber Security Coordinator to collect the information (including sensitive information) for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1988.
(3) Information about the incident may be provided under subsection (2):
(a) at any time during the response to the incident; and
(b) on the impacted entity’s own initiative or in response to a request by the National Cyber Security Coordinator.
Note: There is no obligation on the impacted entity to provide information in response to a request.
Presumption
(4) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), an incident (other than an incident covered by paragraph 9(2)(a) or (b)) is presumed to be a cyber security incident if:
(a) the incident was probably effected, is probably being effected or could reasonably be expected to be effected, by means of a telegraphic, telephonic or other like service within the meaning of paragraph 51(v) of the Constitution (including, for example, by means of the internet); or