Australia’s Gillard to Establish Office to Combat Cyber Attacks

Australia will establish a security center to combat cyber crime after government departments received more than 400 attacks in the year to June 30, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said today.

Cyber attacks cost the economy about A$1.65 billion ($1.74 billion) last year, with 5.4 million Australians targeted, Gillard said in an e-mailed statement. The Australian Cyber Security Centre will open in Canberra by late 2013, she said.