Television Interview, ABC News Breakfast

SUBJECTS: Annual Cyber Threat Report; Bunnings; Ukraine conflict; Energy; CFMEU; NSW Industrial action 

STEPH FERRIER, HOST: Well, for more on federal politics, we're joined by the Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles from Parliament House. Good morning, Deputy Prime Minister. How are you this morning?

RICHARD MARLES, ACTING PRIME MINISTER: I'm well, Steph, how are you?

FERRIER: Good, thank you. Now, first of all, I'll just go to this Cyber Report or the Annual Cyber Threat Report. Can you tell us what details have come out of that?

MARLES: Well, what we're seeing is a significant level of cyber threat in the country. The Australian Signals Directorate, which is our main agency that handles this, receives a report once every six minutes. What we have seen in the course of the last year is that the cost of each of those incidents is going up. So, an 8% increase for small businesses, 17% increase for individuals. And the other worrying thing that we've seen is an increased focus on cyber attacks on critical infrastructure, both from criminal actors but also state actors. So, this remains one of the real threats that our country has to deal with. Right now we're investing a lot in this. So, we’ve pretty well doubled the size of ASD over the course of five years. We're in the process of doing that and our message really this morning is particularly to businesses. You need to understand what systems you've got in place. That would sound obvious, but lots of businesses don't. This is an evolving threat and so you need to evolve your defences with it. You can't just simply set and forget your cyber defences. And it's really important that you work with ASD. It's a national asset. They are experts, they're there to help.

FERRIER: Just moving on to another technology topic. With the revelations that Bunnings got itself into trouble when it comes into privacy laws. I'm just wondering whether or not some of this legislation needs to be beefed up to protect people.

MARLES: Oh, I don't think it's an issue with the legislation. I mean, firstly, we take Australians privacy very seriously. People's information, their own identity, belongs to them. This actually is a case where the Privacy Commissioner has been involved in a multi year investigation in this case, has found what it has and has put in place orders so it's actually acting in respect of Bunnings to ensure that we are protecting Australians privacy. And it's really important that companies obviously comply with the law. We expect companies to deal with Australians private information in accordance with the law in a proper way. And this is the Privacy Commissioner holding a company which has done the wrong thing to account.

FERRIER: Were you surprised by this situation?

MARLES: I am, but I'm also very comforted by the actions that the Privacy Commissioner has taken. But that said, you know, it really is important that Australian companies and those who are dealing with the private information of Australian individuals are doing so in accordance with the law. Particularly in the age in which we are living where that information can be exploited in so many different ways. Privacy laws have now never been more important. There's never been more interest and concern about them being maintained. And that's why the work of the Privacy Commissioner is so important and their work in this case has been, has been so commendable.

FERRIER: Just in relation to international events, Russia is vowing to react accordingly following reports that Ukraine has fired six of these US long range missiles into its territory for the first time. Is this an appropriate time to reopen the embassy in Ukraine given this potentially escalating situation?

MARLES: Well, in terms of the embassy specifically, you know, we want to have our embassy open in Ukraine and we have for a long time. Obviously before the conflict started we had had an embassy there and we do have an ambassador who is based in the region in Warsaw. We will reopen the embassy when we believe that it is safe to do so. So, this continues to be a matter that we are working through. Obviously the statements we've seen from Russia overnight are deeply concerning as is the cooperation that we are seeing between Russia and North Korea and the growing number of North Korean troops on the Ukrainian border. I mean, this represents a completely unacceptable escalation on what is already a completely unacceptable conflict where Russia has sought to impose itself on a smaller neighbour not by reference to international law, but simply by reference to power and might.

FERRIER: Now the Opposition Leader is saying that Australia has become an international embarrassment under the Albanese government after refusing to join the US and UK on this nuclear energy pact. What do you say in response to that?

MARLES: Well, I think the Opposition Leader is intentionally seeking to conflate two ideas here and frankly spread a form of misinformation really. I mean, we don't have a civil nuclear industry. This is an agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States to cooperate in respect of their civil nuclear industries. And so it's simply not an agreement which would apply to that. It sits completely separately to what we are doing with the UK and the US in relation to AUKUS, which is an agreement that is proceeding very well. What's embarrassing here is the Leader of the Opposition's proposition that Australia should walk down from where we are now and having no civil nuclear industry to try to acquire one. And that's embarrassing because it would be pursuing for Australia the single most expensive form of electricity on the planet, like twelve hundred dollars on each and every household's budget, power bills. That would be the increase. By walking down that path, we wouldn't see it for a couple of decades. And even when it came into place, it would contribute at most about 4% to the power grid. Now, putting that proposition in front of the Australian people, that is what's embarrassing.

FERRIER: Just on another issue there, are you concerned about some of these reports that are out at the moment about security potentially having to be brought into the CFMEU after potentially some of these people who were ousted from the CFMEU for links to criminal ties were trying to come back in?

MARLES: Well, I mean, the CFMEU has played out as it has. It is really important that people comply with the law firstly. Obviously, it's really important that unions are able to pursue their role in representing the interests of their members and that they are able to do that free of any physical threats and that's something that applies across the board.

FERRIER: And speaking of unions, what are your thoughts on the rail, tram and bus Unions decision to actually go on strike and cause a massive commuter problem over the weekend for thousands of Sydneysiders?

MARLES: Well, I understand that that's going to be a disruption which is going to be a significant concern for people in Sydney. Ultimately, this is a matter that needs to be worked through with the NSW government and the union at hand. But clearly we are very mindful of the inconvenience that will be there for Sydney scientists.

FERRIER: Richard Marles, thank you very much for your time on a huge amount of topics there.

MARLES: Thank you.