The 2025-26 Budget is set to deliver $125.8 million for critical cyber upgrades, cutting-edge technology, and specialist equipment to rebuild the NSW Police Force (NSWPF).
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, Yasmin Catley said the investment will ensure police have the best resources available to continue to stay ahead of cyber criminals, disrupt threats and ensure the organisation’s sensitive data, and in turn the public, remain safe.
“We are making sure the NSW Police Force has the best and latest cyber capabilities to keep our communities safe – and that’s exactly what this investment does,” the Minister said.
“With the number of cyber attacks only growing, we must ensure police can respond at any time of the day and keep people’s information protected.
“This builds on our record investment to rebuild the NSW Police Force by giving officers the capability and technology to continue their ever-important work of keeping the community safe.”
$24.6 million will fund the Cyber Security Enhancement Program – providing the NSWPF with full cyber threat detection and response capability.
The funding includes:
- Enhancing real-time, threat-driven, and proactive cyber response capabilities: with advanced tools and technologies, the NSW Police Force can monitor and adapt to cyber threats swiftly and effectively;
- Preventing cyber incidents to ensure there is no impact to public safety: by strengthening cyber defences, the NSW Police Force can prevent incidents that could impact public safety;
- Identifying and confronting future cyber threats head-on: proactive measures will be taken to anticipate and mitigate future cyber threats;
- Meeting public expectations of the capabilities and capacity of a modern law enforcement agency: ensuring that the NSW Police Force is equipped to handle cyber threats will continue to build public trust and confidence.
$50 million will support the Critical Network Program to upgrade outdated network devices, improve enterprise capabilities, and build a modern network.
That includes:
- improving the contact centre technology for 000, the Police Assistance Line and Crime Stoppers;
- refreshing end of life network devices at NSWPF sites (i.e. police stations and other command buildings);
- modernising networks, expanding wifi capability and improving network security;
- replacing legacy telephone systems with new platforms and hardware;
- replacing end of life audio visual infrastructure across corporate and corrections environments – this includes for bail hearings.
$6 million will fund new specialist investigation equipment, while $45.2 million will upgrade and modernise a secure payroll platform to support more than 21,000 NSWPF staff.
“The investment in the Cyber Security Enhancement Program ensures that police infrastructure and critical information is safe from malicious cyberattacks,” said NSW Police Force Deputy Commissioner Dean Smith.
“The threat of cyberattack is ever evolving, and we need to be ahead of threat actors, internationally and locally when it comes to our prevention, detection and response capability. This is critical to the work we do.
“We know that the threat of cyberattack is real, and like other organisations we receive threats every day.
“Equally significant is the investment into our Critical Network Program. This includes investment into our Audio Visual Link technology to work efficiently with the courts and corrective services.”
