Home Affairs is getting Air Force expertise to fortify its cyber responses.

Air Vice-Marshal Darren Goldie, the former head of the Royal Australian Air Force's VIP operations and current air commander, has been appointed as the head of the National Office of Cyber Security and Australia's cyber security coordinator within the Department of Home Affairs. 

The move could be a significant victory for the military in Australia's cyber landscape.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil made the announcement last week, fulfilling a key election promise to establish a dedicated national cyber-coordination function under the Home Affairs portfolio, rather than the Defence sector, which handles offensive capabilities.

Goldie's appointment shows there are major challenges and trust involved in assigning a national cyber chief to a primarily civilian agency that lacks the specific powers of signals intelligence agencies. 

Such agencies have the ability to proactively intrude and prevent attacks before they occur.

Assigning a uniformed Air Force two-star general to the role of cyber coordinator should also help alleviate potential tensions within the military. 

The appointment acknowledges the frustration experienced by military personnel when politicians oversimplify the complex and volatile cyber domain without considering the viewpoints of those directly involved in operations.

The boundaries of cyber operations are being tested by Russian-speaking actors who have created an extortion industry through ransomware attacks, where data is encrypted and released publicly. 

Goldie's responsibilities will include coordinating the prevention and response to such incidents, which often impact the corporate sector and critical infrastructure.

Goldie's extensive leadership and coordination skills, gained from his current role ensuring operational readiness of the Air Force, have been highlighted as key qualities. 

With a background as a Hercules pilot, Goldie has served in challenging environments in East Timor, Iraq, and Afghanistan, accumulating 5,000 flying hours.

Regarding expectations for Goldie, Minister O'Neil saud Australia will continue to dent cyber attackers and not pay ransoms. 

She says the government's stance is that ransoms are best avoided, but acknowledged the gravity of the cyber challenge ahead.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Goldie was selected based on his proven leadership track record, and that proper processes were followed in his appointment. 

He expressed gratitude to the Chief of the Defence Force for approving Goldie's secondment while emphasising the adherence to appropriate cabinet procedures.