24 SEPTEMBER 2026 – On the OpenAI hacked Medicare portal incident, Australian Computer Society CEO Dr Prins Ralston FACS HLM said:
“This incident is a reminder that digital sovereignty is not only about where our data is stored or which technology we use. It is also about whether Australia has the capability to protect the systems and information our country depends on.
“Healthcare, government, defence, energy, financial services and other critical infrastructure increasingly rely on technology professionals making decisions that can have national consequences. We need to know that the people entrusted with those systems can actually perform the work required of them.
“Qualifications, certifications and job titles all have a role, but capability needs to be demonstrated. That means assessing people against the skills their roles require, identifying gaps and providing the training and development needed to close them.
“As AI increases both the sophistication and speed of cyber threats, building and maintaining a highly capable technology workforce must be treated as a matter of national interest.
“Digital sovereignty ultimately depends on people as much as technology. Australia needs the skills, capability and professional standards to secure its own systems, protect its data and respond when something goes wrong because public confidence depends on it. As Australia’s professional association for the technology sector, ACS stands ready to work with government and industry to strengthen the skills, professional standards, and assurance frameworks needed to protect the systems Australians rely on every day.”
Further information
Troy Steer Director of Corporate Affairs and Public Policy
M – 0417 173 740 E – troy.steer@acs.org.au
About ACS
ACS is the voice of Australia’s technology sector, representing more than 42,000 technology professionals across industry, education, government and the community. ACS works to grow Australia’s technology workforce, strengthen professional standards and ensure Australians have the skills and capability needed to participate in the nation’s digital future.