Prime Minister Gillard Takes Control Of Cyber Security

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has assumed responsibility for the Australian Government's cyber security policy in a wide-ranging reshuffle of federal cabinet announced this morning.
The announcement - ignored in Julia Gillard's speech to media this morning but included in a transcript made available later - will see the Attorney-General's Department lose responsibility for the policy.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet said the assumption of cyber security policy was a move to consolidate whole-of-government responsibilities.
It was one of several changes made to cabinet today, sparked by the resignation of Minister for Small Business, Nick Sherry and a shoring up of support for the Prime Minister. It brings the total number of cabinet ministers to 22.
Robert McClelland was replaced as Attorney-General with health minister Nicola Roxon, who becomes Australia's first female in the role.
Roxon will still assume responsibility for several important technology issues, including copyright reform, but she will lose a core aspect of the portfolio which encompasses the ongoing development of a national cyber security strategy, identity theft procedures and a whole-of-government review of departmental security policies.
Those responsibilities could ultimately come under the purview of Kate Lundy, parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister and a key political figure in technology circles in the lead-up to the 2010 federal election.
A spokeswoman for Lundy would not comment on the reshuffle.

See more at: http://www.itnews.com.au/News/282978,gillard-takes-on-cyber-security-in-cabinet-reshuffle.aspx