The Australian government has introduced a legislation against cyber crime.

Cyber crime has become increasingly important to tackle for government’s across the globe. The US is preparing a cyber defence strategy that deems cyber attacks as acts of war. The UK, New Zealand, Japan and Malaysia have all initiated regulations and laws against cyber crime.

According to a report by Reuters, the laws, after ratification by the Australian parliament, will give
Australian police and intelligence agencies new powers, including forcing telecommunications companies to keep store required information, which was normally destroyed by them.

The laws will also pave the way for greater cooperation with overseas cybercrime agencies, and provide authorities better access to information stored in other countries.

In March this year, the parliamentary computers of Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and those of at least two senior ministers were reported to be subjected to hacking for over a month beginning in February.

The breach discovered by American intelligence officials, who believe that several thousand e-mails may have been accessed from the computers of at least 10 ministers.

Last month, the Australian government asked resource companies to step up their security against cyber attacks from overseas groups.

The government warned companies that offshore cyber-security threats were intensifying.

Australian Attorney-General Robert McClelland told Reuters, "There is no doubt that cyber-security threats are becoming worse."

"Without talking about specific incidents, there have been a number of reports concerning our resource companies," McClelland added.

McClelland has urged the country to seek international cooperation to fight cyber crime.

"The increasing cyber threat means that no nation alone can effectively overcome this problem and international cooperation is essential," McClelland said.

"Australia must have appropriate arrangements domestically and internationally to be in the best possible position to fight cybercrime and cyber security threats," McClelland said.

Australia is already developing a cyber defence strategy, a draft of which is expected to be ready next year.