Portfolio: Defence
https://www.asd.gov.au/
$2.6B
2026-27 Budget (Budget Paper No. 4)$2.2B
2024-25 Total Revenue2,800
Headcount (2024-25)Material upward shift in 2026-27 funding (+8.5%, $202M change). 2025-26 estimated actual $2.39B → 2026-27 budget $2.59B. Source: Budget Paper No. 4, Agency Resourcing tables.
12 tagged
Reform proposals on YourGov that name this department as a delivery partner — drawn from citizen voice, government strategy, research, international examples and gap analysis.
STRATEGY SUMMARY
ASD’s purpose is to defend Australia from global threats and advance the national interest by providing foreign signals intelligence, cyber security and offensive cyber operations, as directed by Government. [CP p.3]
PURPOSE
ASD’s purpose is to defend Australia from global threats and advance the national interest by providing foreign signals intelligence, cyber security and offensive cyber operations, as directed by Government. [CP p.3]
Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.3Strategic priorities
· 5
Outcomes
· 5
Outcome 1: Deliver Strategic Advantage
ASD delivers strategic advantage for Australia by providing foreign signals intelligence that protects and advances Australia’s national interest. Foreign intelligence collection activities are guided by strategic priorities set by Government. [CP p.6]
KEY ACTIVITIES
Outcome 2: Lead Cyber Security
ASD is the Australian Government’s leading cyber security agency, and aims to make Australia the most secure place to connect online and to foster national cyber security resilience. ASD’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) monitors cyber threats targeting Australian interests, and provides advice and information, including through an international network of Computer Emergency Response Teams to help protect Australians. [CP p.6]
KEY ACTIVITIES
Outcome 3: Support Military Operations
ASD supports Australian Defence Force (ADF) operations around the globe, with the organisation’s heritage dating back to the Second World War. Today, ASD supports ADF operations by providing intelligence and offensive cyber operations to enable the warfighter and protect ADF personnel and assets. [CP p.6]
KEY ACTIVITIES
Outcome 4: Counter Cyber-Enabled Threats
ASD capabilities play an important role in countering cyber-enabled threats. The organisation protects Australia and Australians by preventing and disrupting offshore cyber-enabled crime, including the activities of organised criminal groups using malware to target Australians, and terrorists who use the internet to plan and incite attacks against Australian interests. [CP p.6]
KEY ACTIVITIES
Outcome 5: Provide Trusted Advice and Expertise
ASD provides trusted advice and expertise to government, business and the community. ASD draws on its deep technical understanding of communications technology to help the Australian Government and the public understand the nature of the cyber threat environment, how they might be vulnerable and what they can do to protect themselves. [CP p.6]
KEY ACTIVITIES
Values
· 9
Reveal their secrets.
Protect our own.
We belong to a great team.
We strive for excellence.
We make a difference in execution.
We succeed by working as OneASD.
We protect and enhance Australia’s national security.
We are leaders in our fields and value diversity of thought.
We are accountable and act legally, proportionately and with propriety.
Performance measures
· 7
| Code | Measure | Target 2025-26 | Latest result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1.1 | Government expectations to deliver strategic advantage are met. | Government and NIC stakeholders confirm that ASD support had a high impact. Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.18 | N/A | N/A |
1.2 | National Intelligence Community operational requirements are met. | NIC and Defence stakeholders confirm that ASD’s products and enabling capabilities had a high impact. Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.18 | N/A | N/A |
2.1 | ASD’s foreign signals intelligence and enabling capabilities support the ADF’s military operations and activities, technological advantage and capabilities. | ADF/Defence stakeholders confirm ASD support had a high impact. Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.19 | N/A | N/A |
3.1 | ASD’s cyber security advice and assistance supports stakeholders to improve or maintain their cyber security posture. | Information Security Manual (ISM) and Essential Eight (E8) are updated at least annually. Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.20 | N/A | N/A |
4.1 | Cyber security information and expertise exchanges with partners help prevent, detect or remediate cyber threats to Australia. | Number of ACSC partners increases. Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.21 | N/A | N/A |
5.1 | Offensive cyber capabilities provide effective and timely support for ADF military operations and activities. | ADF/Defence stakeholders confirm ASD support had a high impact. Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.22 | N/A | N/A |
5.2 | Offensive cyber operations that counter offshore cyber threats meet whole-of-government security requirements. | Government stakeholders confirm ASD operations had a high impact. Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.22 | N/A | N/A |
Source documents
· 7
2025-26
Download ASD Corporate Plan 2025-26 (pdf, 1.38 MB)
Open
2024-25
Download ASD Corporate Plan 2024-25 (pdf, 1.95 MB)
Open
2023
Download ASD-Corporate-Plan-2023_1.pdf (pdf, 4.02 MB)
Open
2022
Download ASD Corporate Plan 2022.pdf (pdf, 6.18 MB)
Open
2021-22
Download ASD Corporate Plan 2021–22 (pdf, 2.25 MB)
Open
2022
Download Responsible Release Principles for Cyber Security Vulnerabilities (pdf, 1.18 MB)
Open
2022
Download ASD Cyber Skills Framework V2 (pdf, 594.43 KB)
Open
Ideas distilled from this entity's strategy & evidence
· 12
KPI evidence register with named owners
Create a simple register mapping each KPI to source data, owner, frequency, target, and last result.
ASD-Corporate-Plan-2021_0.pdf)
Outcome dashboard linking budget, delivery, and public impact
Build a public-facing outcome dashboard showing spend, outputs, outcomes, and delivery confidence.
ASD-Corporate-Plan-2021_0.pdf)
Recommendation tracker for audits, reviews, and inquiries
Publish a single internal tracker for audit/review recommendations, owners, due dates, and implementation evidence.
ASD-Cyber-Skills-Framework-v2.pdf)
Integrated assurance and lessons-learned system
Create an assurance system that connects audit findings, risk registers, delivery reviews, and investment decisions.
ASD-Cyber-Skills-Framework-v2.pdf)
Regulatory burden scan for forms, guidance, and reporting
Identify the top 10 highest-friction reporting obligations and simplify guidance, forms, or evidence requirements.
ASD-Cyber-Skills-Framework-v2.pdf)
Adaptive regulation program with live feedback loops
Create an adaptive regulation model using sandboxes, industry data, risk scoring, and regular rule updates.
ASD-Cyber-Skills-Framework-v2.pdf)
Plain-language service pages and proactive status updates
Rewrite high-volume pages and letters into plain language, add status notifications, and measure contact reduction.
asd-corporate-plan-2023-24)
Single front door for life-event based services
Bundle services around life events so citizens can complete related steps across agencies in one journey.
asd-corporate-plan-2023-24)
Reusable briefing and summary assistant for internal documents
Create controlled templates for summarising reports, submissions, minutes, and ministerial briefs.
ASD-Cyber-Skills-Framework-v2.pdf)
Department-wide knowledge and briefing platform
Build a secure knowledge platform that lets staff search, summarise, and cite approved departmental material.
ASD-Cyber-Skills-Framework-v2.pdf)
Triage queue for stuck or ageing cases
Use existing case data to flag ageing, duplicate, incomplete, or high-risk cases for earlier intervention.
ASD-Cyber-Skills-Framework-v2.pdf)
End-to-end case processing redesign
Redesign the case pathway around risk-based triage, reusable evidence, and automated eligibility checks.
ASD-Cyber-Skills-Framework-v2.pdf)
KPI evidence register with named owners
Create a simple register mapping each KPI to source data, owner, frequency, target, and last result.
ASD-Corporate-Plan-2021_0.pdf)
Outcome dashboard linking budget, delivery, and public impact
Build a public-facing outcome dashboard showing spend, outputs, outcomes, and delivery confidence.
ASD-Corporate-Plan-2021_0.pdf)
Recommendation tracker for audits, reviews, and inquiries
Publish a single internal tracker for audit/review recommendations, owners, due dates, and implementation evidence.
ASD-Cyber-Skills-Framework-v2.pdf)
Integrated assurance and lessons-learned system
Create an assurance system that connects audit findings, risk registers, delivery reviews, and investment decisions.
ASD-Cyber-Skills-Framework-v2.pdf)
Regulatory burden scan for forms, guidance, and reporting
Identify the top 10 highest-friction reporting obligations and simplify guidance, forms, or evidence requirements.
ASD-Cyber-Skills-Framework-v2.pdf)
Adaptive regulation program with live feedback loops
Create an adaptive regulation model using sandboxes, industry data, risk scoring, and regular rule updates.
ASD-Cyber-Skills-Framework-v2.pdf)
Plain-language service pages and proactive status updates
Rewrite high-volume pages and letters into plain language, add status notifications, and measure contact reduction.
asd-corporate-plan-2023-24)
Single front door for life-event based services
Bundle services around life events so citizens can complete related steps across agencies in one journey.
asd-corporate-plan-2023-24)
Reusable briefing and summary assistant for internal documents
Create controlled templates for summarising reports, submissions, minutes, and ministerial briefs.
ASD-Cyber-Skills-Framework-v2.pdf)
Department-wide knowledge and briefing platform
Build a secure knowledge platform that lets staff search, summarise, and cite approved departmental material.
ASD-Cyber-Skills-Framework-v2.pdf)
Triage queue for stuck or ageing cases
Use existing case data to flag ageing, duplicate, incomplete, or high-risk cases for earlier intervention.
ASD-Cyber-Skills-Framework-v2.pdf)
End-to-end case processing redesign
Redesign the case pathway around risk-based triage, reusable evidence, and automated eligibility checks.
ASD-Cyber-Skills-Framework-v2.pdf)
Source library
· 12
1.4MB
2025-26.pdf
2.0MB
2024-25.pdf
4.2MB
2023.pdf
6.5MB
2022.pdf
2.4MB
2021-22.pdf
277KB
2025-26-20Defence-20Portfolio-20Budget-20Statement-20--20Australian-20Signals-20.pdf
418KB
2024-25-20Defence-20Portfolio-20Budget-20Statement-20--20Australian-20Signals-20.pdf
322KB
2023-24-20Defence-20PBS-2004-20ASD.pdf
365KB
2022-23_Defence_PBS_04_ASD.pdf
317KB
defence_portfolio_budget_statement_australian_signals_directorate_extract_from_d.pdf
1.2MB
Responsible-Release-Principles-for-Cyber-Security-Vulnerabilities.pdf
609KB
ASD-Cyber-Skills-Framework-v2.pdf
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