Attorney-General Philip Ruddock has announced that a computer program to help better prepare Australian businesses and communities for natural or manmade disasters is now ‘open for business’.

The Critical Infrastructure Protection Modelling and Analysis (CIPMA) program, claimed to be the World’s leading computer program to protect critical infrastructure, identifies any areas of vulnerability within the Australian critical infrastructure and gauges the flow-on effects if one part of it is compromised.

“The CIPMA capability is a unique collaboration between government and industry, and is initially concentrating on four sectors: communications, energy, water, and banking and finance,” Mr Ruddock said.

CIPMA means that these sectors can now ‘task’ the program to examine a scenario or potential disaster, and advise on the flow-on effects across the sectors.

“These ‘virtual insights’ will feed into the decision-making processes of business and government and will contribute to more targeted and cost-effective policies,’ Mr Ruddock said.

“The success of CIPMA relies on the supply of data and information from the four business sectors and their willingness to participate is a testament to the relationship that has been built between government and industry.

“Ultimately CIPMA will help build a more resilient business sector which can bounce back in the face of adversity, ensuring less disruption to our way of life.”

The Attorney-General’s Department leads the CIPMA initiative and works closely with technical development agency Geoscience Australia and also the CSIRO.

Further information, and hard copy fact sheets, can be obtained by e-mailing cipprojects@ag.gov.au

•Date: 5th October 2007• Region: Australia •Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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