State Government of New South Wales

06/18/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/17/2025 17:41

$125.8 million to future-proof NSW Police Force cyber systems and fund specialist equipment

The investment will ensure police have the best resources available to continue to stay three steps in front of cyber criminals, disrupt threats and ensure the organisation's sensitive data, and in turn the public, remain safe.

It is crucial that the NSWPF stay up to date on cybersecurity to protect sensitive data, ensure public trust, and defend against evolving threats that could disrupt essential services.

$24.6 million will fund the Cyber Security Enhancement Program - providing the NSWPF with full cyber threat detection and response capability.

This will strengthen cyber defences, so the NSWPF can better anticipate and prevent future threats that could impact public safety.

This 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$50 million will support the Critical Network Program to upgrade outdated network devices, improve enterprise capabilities, and build a modern network.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.

And $45.2 million will also upgrade and modernise a secure payroll platform to support more than 21,000 NSWPF staff.

This investment builds on the Minns Labor Government's ongoing work to deliver better frontline services, support the NSWPF and keep the community safe.

The former Liberal-National Government had no plan for police recruitment, no plan for police retention and sent wages backwards for 12 years. As a result, thousands of experienced officers left the force.

We know we have a long way to go, but we are working hard to turn that around by:

  • securing a historic pay rise for officers
  • paying recruits to train, resulting in applications to join the NSWPF soaring by 70 per cent
  • creating a pathway for recruits to serve in or near their hometown after attesting at the Goulburn Police Academy
  • establishing the Professional Mobility Program for serving officers across Australia and New Zealand to join the NSWPF and keep their equivalent rank up to Senior Constable
  • introducing the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Command to better look after officers.

The 2025-26 Budget builds on the strong foundations we have already laid to build a better, safer NSW for all.

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

"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.

"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."

NSW Police Force Deputy Commissioner Dean Smith said:

"The investment in the Cyber Security Enhancement Program ensures that police infrastructure and critical information is safe from malicious cyberattacks.

"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."

State Government of New South Wales published this content on June 18, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 17, 2025 at 23:41 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at support@pubt.io