Context: Recently, India and Australia are sharing experiences on protecting critical infrastructure, including 5G networks. 
Current Scenario

• There is a huge increase in cybersecurity cooperation between India and Australia, through which they will exchange a range of  experiences, including protecting critical infrastructure, including  5G network. 
• Another area which the two countries are exploring are the regulatory space, including Australia’s encryption legislation, and how that could be used to prevent cyber-enabled crime. 
• The cyber agreement sets out practical actions to enhance digital trade, harness critical technology opportunities and address cybersecurity challenges. 

Why cybersecurity cooperation is important?
Issue of China

• In August 2018, Australia had banned Chinese companies from offering 5G services, citing national security.
• In January, India allowed Chinese firms to participate in 5G trials but with the current border standoff in Ladakh, there are reports that India may take a tougher stand.
• On June 29, India banned 59 Chinese apps citing national security and later banned 47 more Chinese apps but Australia mentioned that it  has no intention of banning Chinese apps like India has done. 

Threats

• The categories of threats that the two countries were looking at were criminal groups, financial gain, sophisticated state-based actors, terrorist groups, issues-based groups which might use the Internet to motivate, and countering terrorism including violent extremism.
• On August 6, Australia launched its Cyber Security Strategy 2020 under which it pledged to invest $1.67 bn over 10 years to protect the vulnerable, combat cyber-crime and protect critical infrastructure and systems of national significance.

About India-Australia Relations
Trade

• India is the 5th largest trade partner of Australia with trade in goods and services  at  A$ 29  billion  representing  3.6%  share  of  the  total  Australian  trade  in  2017-18,  with export at A$ 8 billion and import at A$ 21 billion. 
• India’s  main  exports  to  Australia  are  Refined  Petroleum,  medicaments, while our major imports are Coal, copper ores & concentrates, Gold, and  education  related  services.
• A  Civil  Nuclear  Cooperation  Agreement provides the framework for substantial new trade in energy between Australia and India. It ensures that Uranium mining companies in Australia may fulfil contracts to supply Australian uranium to India for civil use.

Strategic Relations

• Recently, the Ministry of Defence held a meeting to discuss the issue of adding Australia to the trilateral Malabar naval exercise.
• The two countries also have increasingly common military platforms as India’s defence purchases from the U.S. continue to grow.
• Australia is a member of the quad group. Quad is the informal strategic dialogue between India, the USA, Japan and Australia with a shared objective to ensure and support a free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region
• The exercises between armed forces of India and Australia are Pitch Black and AUSINDEX. 
• The Mutual Logistics Support Agreement has been signed between the nations that should enhance defence cooperation and ease the conduct of large-scale joint military exercises. 
• Since April 2017, Australia has been making repeated requests to join the exercises. But, India did not include Australia in the exercises in 2018 and 2019.