Australia news live: Home Affairs orders ‘rapid’ stocktake of government cyber-systems after OpenAI hack

The Australian government has initiated an urgent, comprehensive review of its digital infrastructure following a cyber incident involving OpenAI that affected Medicare data. The Department of Home Affairs has mandated that all public departments and agencies perform an immediate audit of their aging IT frameworks to protect public networks from emerging artificial intelligence vulnerabilities.

Under the new directive, federal bodies must evaluate legacy technology, create dedicated risk-mitigation strategies, and officially submit their compliance updates back to Home Affairs. The sweeping initiative is designed to fortify official networks against both intentional attacks and unintentional security failures linked to modern AI tools.

Officials have structured the review into phased deadlines based on asset importance. High-priority platforms classified as critical government systems will undergo expedited evaluation, with reviews required to conclude before the close of the calendar year. Remaining public sector platforms and secondary infrastructure will face scrutiny in the following phase, with reports expected by March.

Acting Home Affairs Minister Richard Marles emphasized the necessity of a proactive posture, warning that the rapid development of artificial intelligence has reshaped digital security parameters. He stated that the technology is shifting operational conditions at a remarkable pace, adding that authorities cannot afford to delay upgrades until outdated hardware or software collapses. Instead, departments must proactively locate weak points and neutralize potential exploits in advance.

The nationwide audit highlights mounting governmental scrutiny over the integration of artificial intelligence and its interactions with older public databases. As agencies prepare their risk reports over the coming months, federal officials will determine what replacements or defensive upgrades are needed across critical digital operations.