The Australian Electoral Commission is seeking cyber security experts to monitor its computer systems 24 hours a day as Australia’s security agencies go on high alert to prevent foreign interference in this year’s Federal election.

Last month’s Council of Australian Governments meeting between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and State and Territory governments culminated in a national agreement for electoral commissions to work with security agencies to beef up defences against potential cyberattacks.

The AEC tender, which closes this week, calls for help from cybersecurity contractors to create a 24/7 security operations centre to help “detect and identify defined specific compromise attempts against electoral systems”.

The enhanced security monitoring is due to begin by the end of the month, and would include continuous “eyes-on” monitoring of AEC systems as the electoral rolls close, and then blanket monitoring of its systems for potential breaches for the week around the election, which will mostly likely be held in May.

The beefed-up approach to election security comes after accusations Russia tried to interfere in the 2016 US presidential election, including unproved accusations the electronic voting systems in some US States may have been breached by hackers.

Play Video The Federal Government has publicly condemned China for stealing commercial secrets after two Chinese hackers were charged in the US The West Australian Video The Federal Government has publicly condemned China for stealing commercial secrets after two Chinese hackers were charged in the US

In April, the Federal Government set up a high-powered foreign interference monitoring unit within the Department of Home Affairs, run by former senior ASIO official Chris Teal, to bolster defences against similar attacks on Australia’s democratic institutions.

Although Australians vote using paper ballots, making attempts to change results of the national vote difficult, it is understood the AEC is concerned hackers who gained access to its systems could affect electronic tallying systems, potentially influencing or halting information produced on election night and undermining public confidence in the electoral system.

Mr Teal, the National Counter Foreign Interference Co-ordinator, said his office was supporting the AEC and the Department of Finance to ensure the integrity of Australia’s electoral processes in the lead-up to the Federal election.

“The current scale of foreign interference activity against Australia is unprecedented, with the potential to inflict catastrophic harm on our country’s interests and to undermine our sovereignty, security and prosperity,” Mr Teal said.

ASIO produced 286 intelligence and security reports on counter-espionage and foreign interference last year.