Cyber security is a "priority" ahead of the state budget

When asked about the funding Tasmanian Science and Technology Minister Michael Ferguson said the state welcomed the additional money.

"We'll have more to say about cybersecurity as a state priority in the upcoming State Budget," Mr Ferguson said.

The last state budget dedicated $300,000 a year to improve Tasmania's cyber security.

Targeted because of its history of cyber innovation, Launceston is the home of a recently launched Tasmania Cyber Security Innovation Node.

Node manager Casey Farrell said the money in the federal budget was essentially a renewal of an ongoing commitment.

FEDERAL BUDGET:

Mr Farrell said there was space for cyber security in Australia to be more proactive, but was unsure whether the budget announcement would allow for it.

"Is the spend just doing the bare minimum? Are we going to get ahead of the curve? Probably not," Mr Farrell said.

Mr Farrell was also disappointed the budget did not set aside money to establish a joint cyber security centre in the state, something that every other state capital in the country has.

A joint centre could provide Tasmanian businesses with on the ground cyber security contacts and military grade communications and cyber security personnel and hoped the state budget may allow for its establishment.

With an expectation there will be more positions than candidates in the cyber security sector, Mr Farrell said a national education standard for cyber security should be a priority.

"There are opportunities for Tasmania in applying technologies, rather than just personnel," Mr Farrell said.

Launtel founder Damian Ivereigh said cyber security, by nature, was an area of confidentiality.

"It's hard to know whether you're achieving your goals," Mr Ivereigh said.

Mr Ivereigh said if cyber security is successful, you generally will not know because it will have thwarted any attacks and it can be difficult to see how money is spent in shoring up online security as a result, particularly for the average punter.

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