What you need to know about the critical infrastructure reforms in Australia

Despite a complex legislative history, the amendments to the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018  (Cth) (SOCI Act) have now been finalised (subject to the ongoing development of a number of 'Rules', which play an important role in determining the application and also determining certain operational details of the SOCI Act). 

Amongst other things, the SOCI Act's extended operation imposes three key obligations on entities responsible for critical infrastructure assets. Our previous article provides an overview of the legislative history of these reforms and some of the key provisions.

These amendments have wide-reaching implications for numerous sectors, and organisations that are subject to the SOCI Act have a number of immediate steps to take to ensure that they are ready to comply with the 'positive security obligations' (described below) as compliance becomes mandatory in the coming months.