[LINK] Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment Bill 2009 - Network Protection

[Stilgherrian]

 From the Attorney-General's Department website at
http://www.ag.gov.au/www/agd/agd.nsf/Page/Consultationsreformsandreviews_Telecommunications(InterceptionandAccess)AmendmentBill2009-NetworkProtection
or
http://is.gd/1EEXQ

Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment Bill 2009 -  
Network Protection

Closing date for submissions is 7 August 2009.

The Australian Government has approved the release of exposure draft  
legislation to facilitate public consultation on proposed reforms to  
the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 (the TIA  
Act) intended to improve the capacity of owners and operators of  
computer networks to undertake activities to protect their networks.

Computer networks require testing, monitoring and maintenance to  
ensure they are not vulnerable to known or predicted security risks  
and are able to repel or survive an attack. They also require  
monitoring and maintenance to ensure they operate in an efficient  
manner, are free of misconfigurations, and that network traffic can  
travel at optimal speeds.

However, some routine network protection activities may inadvertently  
contravene the TIA Act. Although a number of government agencies are  
protected by an exemption under the TIA Act, this exemption is only  
effective until 12 December 2009. This limited timeframe was designed  
to enable these agencies to undertake network protection activities  
while a broader solution, applicable to the general community, was  
developed.

A proposal has been developed by the Attorney-General’s Department in  
consultation with key stakeholders and is set out in draft legislation  
which shows how the proposal could be accommodated in the TIA Act.  
Feedback obtained through this consultation process will inform the  
development of amendments to the TIA Act to be introduced into  
Parliament.
How do I comment?

Comments are sought by 7 August 2009 in order to allow legislation to  
be introduced and debated in Parliament prior to 12 December 2009.

Comments can be emailed to the Attorney-General’s Department at tslb at ag.gov.au 
  or mailed to:

Telecommunications and Surveillance Law Branch
National Security Law and Policy Division
Attorney-General's Department
3-5 National Circuit
Barton ACT 2600

If you have any queries please contact the Telecommunications &  
Surveillance Law Branch on telephone: (02) 6141 3468.



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