Councils Push for Federal Funding for Shared Cyber Security Centres

Local councils across Australia are calling on the federal government to fund shared Security Operations Centres (SOCs), arguing that many councils do not have the resources, funding, or skilled staff needed to defend against growing cyber threats.

The proposal comes ahead of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) national general assembly in Canberra, where multiple councils submitted motions requesting federal support for shared cybersecurity infrastructure. The idea is to create regional shared SOCs that can provide cybersecurity services to multiple councils instead of each council building its own expensive security system.

These shared SOCs would include Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems, which monitor networks, detect cyber threats, and respond to security incidents. The proposed SOCs would offer 24/7 monitoring, rapid incident response, threat intelligence sharing, reporting, and secure log storage within Australia.

Leeton Shire Council in New South Wales submitted one of the most detailed proposals. The council suggested a tiered service model, meaning cybersecurity services would be scaled based on each council’s size, risk level, and technical capacity.

Other councils also supported stronger cybersecurity measures. Noosa Shire Council in Queensland called for improved cyber protections, while Bega Valley Shire Council in New South Wales suggested a broader approach. Bega Valley proposed that local governments should be included in the federal government’s data and digital government strategy, which would give councils access to the same cybersecurity frameworks, resources, and support that federal agencies receive.

Bega Valley Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick said local governments manage large amounts of sensitive data and critical infrastructure, making them attractive targets for cyberattacks. However, many councils do not have the funding or technical expertise to implement strong cybersecurity systems on their own.

In a previous budget submission for 2023–24, ALGA requested $10 million in federal funding to assess the cybersecurity readiness of local governments. The funding would also be used to establish a local government Chief Information Security Office (CISO) within the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) to help coordinate cybersecurity efforts across councils.

The Department of Home Affairs responded by saying that cybersecurity in Australia is a shared responsibility across all levels of government. The department also noted that state and territory governments already oversee local government cybersecurity through policies and regulations designed to improve security standards.

The federal government is currently developing the next phase of the Australian Cyber Security Strategy (2026–2028), and increased coordination between federal, state, and local governments is being considered as part of that strategy.

The push for shared SOCs highlights a growing cybersecurity concern: smaller organizations such as local councils often manage critical services and sensitive data but lack the resources to defend against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. Shared cybersecurity infrastructure could help smaller councils improve their security without the high cost of building their own security operations centres.