Improving cybersecurity for Local Governments in Queensland

Published on 14 December 2025

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Improving Cybersecurity for Local Governments in Queensland

Challenges to Improving Cybersecurity for Local Governments in Queensland

Cybersecurity has emerged as a strategic priority for Local Government in Queensland as they modernise service delivery, digitise operations, and manage increasingly complex digital infrastructure. However, despite widespread awareness of cyber risks, many councils remain critically underprepared.

Queensland’s 77 councils face rising exposure to cyber threats, yet maturity in their security posture (readiness and defense capability) remains uneven. Among the various challenges facing councils, the most significant barrier to improving cybersecurity is a chronic shortage of internal capability and resources - both financial and human.

Capability Gaps and Skills Shortages

Local governments, particularly in regional and remote Queensland, often lack access to specialised cybersecurity expertise. Unlike larger state agencies or private sector organisations, most councils struggle to afford a dedicated cybersecurity team or a full-time Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Instead, ICT generalists are tasked with managing cybersecurity alongside broader IT duties, resulting in reactive approaches and fragmented controls.

This resource constraint limits councils’ ability to proactively manage risk, implement advanced security tools, or respond effectively to incidents. A 2022 audit by the Queensland Audit Office (QAO) highlighted that only a minority of councils had formal cyber risk assessments, incident response plans, or user training programs in place - exposing a widespread lack of capability in foundational areas.

Funding Constraints and Competing Priorities

Councils are also constrained by tight budgets and competing priorities, such as infrastructure upgrades, flood resilience, waste management, and community services. Cybersecurity investments often compete with more visible or politically urgent initiatives. Without dedicated funding streams or mandates for cybersecurity uplift, security programs are delayed, under-scoped, or deprioritised.

Moreover, the absence of enforceable minimum cybersecurity standards for councils - unlike the obligations placed on state agencies under the Queensland Government Cyber Security Policy (QGCSP) - creates an inconsistent approach to investment. Councils often lack clear benchmarks to guide spending or assess maturity, leading to ad hoc procurement of tools without the governance to support them.

Legacy Systems and Technical Debt

Queensland councils also face growing technical debt from legacy systems, many of which were not designed with modern security requirements in mind. Ageing ERP systems, outdated web platforms, and unpatched hardware introduce significant vulnerabilities. Upgrading these systems requires capital and expertise that is often not available in-house.

Additionally, many councils rely on third-party service providers to deliver core IT functions, including cloud services and software-as-a-service platforms. However, few have robust third-party risk management practices or vendor cybersecurity attestations in place, creating further exposure in their supply chains.

A Path Forward: Shared Services and State Government Support

To address these systemic barriers, Queensland councils need a coordinated and scalable approach. Shared service models - such as regional security operations centers (SOCs) or group-wide incident response frameworks - can help bridge the gap for resource-constrained councils. The State Government could also explore extending the Queensland Government Cyber Security Program (QGCSP), aligning guidance to local governments, or introducing incentives for cybersecurity maturity assessments and uplift programs.

Supplier engagement also plays a key role. Councils must ensure procurement policies mandate cybersecurity requirements and that suppliers complete appropriate attestation and compliance documentation, particularly for cloud-based and critical systems.

In Queensland, the most significant barrier to improving cybersecurity at the Local Government level is a structural lack of capability and resourcing. This challenge is not unique to Queensland but is amplified by geographic dispersion, budget pressures, and legacy infrastructure. Overcoming it requires not only funding and skills uplift but a strategic shift toward shared risk ownership, consistent policy guidance, and investment in scalable, region-wide cybersecurity models. Without this shift, many councils will remain vulnerable to an increasingly hostile digital landscape.

Local Buy Arrangements can support councils in meeting their cybersecurity needs via access to pre-qualified cybersecurity suppliers. For more information, please contact our Category Manager, Michael Franzmann