On 10 February 2022, the Hon. Karen Andrews MP, Minister for Home Affairs referred the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure Protection) Bill 2022 to the Committee for inquiry and report.

The SLACIP Bill has been introduced to address the outstanding elements of the proposed framework that the PJCIS reported on in its Advisory report on the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Bill 2020 and Statutory Review of the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018.

The Bill proposes revised measures to introduce:

• Critical Infrastructure Risk Management Programs – revised and reformed in line with the recommendations of the PJCIS report. The form of the programs, the rules defining their content and scope, and ongoing consultation to ensure collaborative design and to avoid regulatory duplication has been highlighted by the Government in the Bill’s introduction;
• Declaration of Systems of National Significance and accompanying Enhanced Cyber Security Obligations; and
• Other measures to achieve the outcomes of other recommendations from the PJCIS report, feedback from stakeholders and other realised efficiencies.

Making a Submission
The Committee invites written submissions addressing any or all aspects of the bill.

Given the short timeframe necessitated for the review, the Committee offers the following areas of focus for submitters to address to guide submission direction:

• Did you provide feedback on the exposure draft and do you feel like consultation was inclusive and wide-ranging?
• Has your feedback been incorporated in the Bill or addressed in explanatory material?
• What are your five key themes of feedback on the Bill?
• Do you think the potential regulatory impact has been captured accurately?
• On balance, do you support the Bill in its presented form, recognising the risks facing critical infrastructure assets in Australia?

Prospective submitters are advised that any submission to the Committee’s inquiry must be prepared solely for the inquiry and should not be published prior to being accepted by the Committee.
Submissions are requested by 4.00pm 1 March 2022. Submissions are welcomed prior to this date, however extensions will not be granted except in extraordinary circumstances.

Further information about making a submission to a parliamentary committee inquiry is available here.