He did so in unveiling Australia’s $230 million cyber security strategy, which focuses on closer collaboration with business.

The move comes as the government confirmed reports the Bureau of Meteorology and Department of Parliamentary Services have been targets of malicious cyber attacks in recent years.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told reporters on the NSW South Coast the BOM attack was under investigation.

Turnbull said an offensive cyber capability provided an option for the government to respond, but would be subject to “stringent” legal oversight.

“Some intrusions are the work of foreign adversaries, others involve malicious software,” he said at the strategy launch in Sydney today.

“The scale and rate of compromise is increasing.”

The government would work with other nations to shut down safe havens for criminal and terrorist organisations.

Unexplained cyber attacks could escalate into war between countries, Turnbull said.

The Australian Crime Commission estimated the cost to the economy of cyber crime was about $1 billion each year, while other assessments put it closer to $17 billion.

Many people would have no idea they’d been targeted by cyber criminals.

“Now as your prime minister, my highest duty and that of my government is to keep Australians safe,” Turnbull said.

“It is no different in cyberspace.”

The strategy’s centrepiece involves sharing threat information between business and government, using the existing Australian Cyber Security Centre and new portals in capital cities.

The centre will be relocated from Australia’s spy building in Canberra to a more accessible venue.

The prime minister will convene annual meetings with business leaders.

The strategy, the first since 2009, took 18 months to develop and will create about 100 jobs – most of which will be highly specialised.

Turnbull announced the new role of “cyber ambassador” and will appoint a minister assisting him on cyber security.

The strategy sits alongside $400 million outlined in the Defence blueprint for cyber activities.

While agencies don’t believe there’s yet been a serious cyber attack – which is defined as compromising national security – there are thousands of intrusions every year.

They range from theft of intellectual property to illegally modifying data to seeking ransom to unlock a computer affected by malicious software.

“We must safeguard against criminality, espionage, sabotage and unfair competition online,” Turnbull said.

About $190 million allocated to the strategy was new money, with the remaining funds coming from the Innovation and Science Agenda.

It included an education program to raise awareness of cyber intrusions.

CYBER SECURITY POLICY SNAPSHOT

NATIONAL CYBER PARTNERSHIP ($38.8m)

New, more accessible Australian Cyber Security Centre – relocated from ASIO building in Canberra

STRONG CYBER DEFENCES ($136.1m)

* Joint cyber threat information sharing centres and online portal

* Good practice guidance

* Small business grants for improved security

* Increase government’s cybercrime intelligence and investigation capability

* Boost capability to identify vulnerabilities in government systems

GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY AND INFLUENCE ($6.7m)

Increase Australia’s open and secure internet advocacy overseas

GROWTH AND INNOVATION ($38m – funded under National Innovation and Science Agenda)

* Support new business and promote export of security products

* Establish national cyber security innovation network

* Enhance Australia’s digital and data network Data61’s cyber security program

A CYBER SMART NATION ($13.5m)

* Establish academic centres of cyber security excellence

* National cyber security awareness

AAP