What are the Australia SOCI Act compliance deadlines?

Jul 11, 2018: SOCI Act commences. Jul 8, 2022: Mandatory cyber incident reporting starts for most assets (tentative).

When does Australia SOCI Act take effect?

Australia SOCI Act took effect on Jul 11, 2018.

Who does Australia SOCI Act apply to?

Responsible entities and direct interest holders for critical infrastructure assets across 11 sectors, including energy, water, communications, data storage and processing, financial services, health, transport and food.

What are the penalties under Australia SOCI Act?

Civil penalties for failing to register, report incidents or keep a risk management program. Amounts are set in penalty units in the Act and are not captured here.

Australia SOCI Act

Amended Australia · In force Jul 11, 2018 · no upcoming deadlines

Official text

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Deadlines

ComplianceTentativeJul 8, 2022 · 4.3 years ago · Source

Mandatory cyber incident reporting starts for most assetsThe Application Rules registered on 7 April 2022 gave most asset classes a 3-month grace period before Part 2B incident reporting applied. The date is worked out from that grace period.

Takes effectJul 11, 2018 · 8.3 years ago · Source

SOCI Act commencesThe whole Act commences by Proclamation.

Summaries for reference, not legal advice. Check the official text.

What it does

Australia's critical infrastructure security law. Owners and operators of critical infrastructure assets must register ownership and operational information, and many must report cyber security incidents to the Australian Signals Directorate. Responsible entities for many asset classes must also keep a critical infrastructure risk management program. Systems of national significance face enhanced cyber security obligations, and the government has step-in and assistance powers.

Who it applies to: Responsible entities and direct interest holders for critical infrastructure assets across 11 sectors, including energy, water, communications, data storage and processing, financial services, health, transport and food.
Penalties: Civil penalties for failing to register, report incidents or keep a risk management program. Amounts are set in penalty units in the Act and are not captured here.
Enforced by: Department of Home Affairs (Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre); Australian Signals Directorate receives incident reports
Official name: Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018
Citation: Act No. 29, 2018; amended by Acts of 2021, 2022 and 2024
Topics: Cybersecurity, Breach notification

Verified 2026-09-25 legislation.gov.au legislation.gov.au legislation.gov.au legislation.gov.au

Research notes

The 2021 (SLACI), 2022 (SLACIP) and 2024 (Enhanced Response and Prevention) amending Acts are on the Federal Register. The incident reporting start date is calculated, not stated, so it is marked tentative. Risk management program dates are not captured here.

In forceAustralia

Australia Cyber Security Act (ransomware reporting)Australia's first standalone cyber law: mandatory reporting of ransomware or cyber-extortion payments within 72 hours, security standards for consumer smart devices, 'limited use' protections for information shared with ASD and the National Cyber Security Coordinator, and a Cyber Incident Review Board. Ransomware payment reporting has applied since 30 May 2025.In effect since Nov 30, 2024

AmendedAustralia

Australia Online Safety ActSets up the eSafety Commissioner and removal schemes for cyber-bullying of children, adult cyber-abuse, non-consensual intimate images and abhorrent violent material. It also sets Basic Online Safety Expectations with reporting duties, and binding industry codes and standards. The Unlawful Material codes and standards cover class 1A and 1B material such as child sexual exploitation and pro-terror content. The Age-Restricted Material codes cover class 1C and class 2 material such as online pornography, and require age assurance and other measures to protect children.In effect since Jan 23, 2022

AmendedAustralia

Australia Privacy ActAustralia's federal privacy law (13 Australian Privacy Principles, Notifiable Data Breaches scheme). The 2024 amendment adds a statutory tort for serious invasions of privacy, tiered civil penalties and infringement notices, a mandate for a Children's Online Privacy Code, clearer security duties, and privacy-policy transparency for substantially automated decisions from 10 December 2026. It also adds criminal doxxing offences.Next: Dec 10 Children's Online Privacy Code must be registered · in 44 days

In forceAustralia

Australia Social Media Minimum AgeRequires providers of age-restricted social media platforms to take reasonable steps to stop Australians under 16 from having accounts. Platforms may not rely only on government ID for age assurance, and must protect data collected for age checks and destroy it after use. eSafety has named platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Threads, Twitch and Kick.In effect since Dec 10, 2025

In forceChina

China Cyber Incident Reporting MeasuresRequires network operators in China to grade cybersecurity incidents using an annexed grading guide and report incidents rated relatively major or above. CII operators must report within 1 hour, central government bodies within 2 hours, and other operators to the provincial CAC within 4 hours. A full post-incident report is due within 30 days after handling ends, and ransom demands must be disclosed.In effect since Nov 1, 2025

AmendedChina

China Cybersecurity LawChina's base cybersecurity statute: multi-level protection scheme duties for network operators, localization and security review duties for critical information infrastructure (CII) operators, and content controls. The 2025 amendment, in force from 1 January 2026, adds AI governance support, ties PI processing to PIPL, allows fines on first violations and sharply raises maximum fines.In effect since Jun 1, 2017

In forceChina

China Data Export Security Assessment MeasuresSets the CAC security assessment that must be passed before certain data leaves China, including exports of important data and large-scale personal information exports. Data handlers must run a self-assessment, then apply through the provincial CAC for a national CAC review. Transfers already under way had six months to come into compliance.In effect since Sep 1, 2022

In forceChina

China Data Security LawSets up China's data classification and grading system, with heightened protection for 'important data' and 'core data'. Requires data processors to run data security management systems, risk monitoring and incident handling, and restricts giving data stored in China to foreign judicial or law-enforcement bodies without approval.In effect since Sep 1, 2021

Questions about Australia SOCI Act

What are the Australia SOCI Act compliance deadlines?: Jul 11, 2018: SOCI Act commences. Jul 8, 2022: Mandatory cyber incident reporting starts for most assets (tentative).
When does Australia SOCI Act take effect?: Australia SOCI Act took effect on Jul 11, 2018.
Who does Australia SOCI Act apply to?: Responsible entities and direct interest holders for critical infrastructure assets across 11 sectors, including energy, water, communications, data storage and processing, financial services, health, transport and food.
What are the penalties under Australia SOCI Act?: Civil penalties for failing to register, report incidents or keep a risk management program. Amounts are set in penalty units in the Act and are not captured here.

Deadlines

What it does

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