The review’s recommendations are principally directed at reducing complexity and improving the agility, clarity and responsiveness of the SOCI Act, including through targeted legislative reform.
In response, the Department of Home Affairs is progressing a second tranche of reforms. The proposed amendments would:
- reduce unnecessary complexity and regulatory duplication
- modernise and refine sector and asset coverage
- clarify legislative expectations, assurance mechanisms, and governance arrangements
- better assess whether security and resilience outcomes are being achieved.
A key objective of these reforms is to make the framework clearer and easier for regulated entities to use. Clearer statutory concepts, guidance materials and assurance arrangements would help entities understand:
- what they need to do
- when obligations apply
- who is responsible for compliance
- how to demonstrate compliance.
These changes aim to support a more mature and effective regulatory framework that can assess whether risk management arrangements are implemented and operating as intended.
