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One of Australia's largest private health insurers has completed a cyber security overhaul, months after a major hacking scandal.

Medibank has resumed all customer-facing platforms on Saturday morning after temporarily shutting down its IT systems to improve security.

"All customer-facing platforms have been fully tested with IT security experts from Microsoft and are operational with enhanced security protections," the company said in a statement.

"The IT systems were back online ahead of schedule at 6.15am (AEDT) on Saturday 10 December 2022. Customers can now access Medibank systems as usual, including the website and apps, and they can use HICAPS when claiming again."

All retail stores and call centres will remain closed until Monday.

Medibank's IT systems had been offline since 8:30pm on Friday in a planned procedure as part of Operation Safeguard, which was carried out at the company's Melbourne headquarters with IT security experts from Microsoft.

The overhaul was in response to a massive cyber attack in October.

Russian cyber criminals hacked Medibank's customer database and stole the health records of almost 10 million current and former customers.

The hackers have since published the entirety of the data on the dark web, including records of procedures and conditions related to abortions and mental health disorders, following Medibank's refusal to pay a $15 million ransom.

The company said there has been no further suspicious activity detected inside its systems since the attack.

© AAP 2022

A secret report on raising the age of criminal responsibility will be publicly released after a meeting between Australia's attorneys-general.

Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus on Friday met his state and territory counterparts to discuss Australia's justice system, including reforms about the age of criminal responsibility.

In a communique released after the virtual meeting, the leaders agreed to release a draft report on the age of criminal responsibility, which was prepared for the Council of Attorneys-General.

"The 2020 Draft Report gave detailed consideration to the existing legal and policy framework and the reforms that could be considered to raise the age of criminal responsibility," it reads.

"The working group identified the need for further work to occur regarding the need for adequate supports and services for children who exhibit offending behaviour."

Since November last year, state attorneys-general have supported a proposal to increase the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12, the statement said.

The Northern Territory recently lifted its age of criminal responsibility to 12.

Co-chair of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, Bangerang and Wiradjuri Elder Aunty Geraldine Atkinson, wrote an open letter to Victoria's attorney-general Jaclyn Symes, urging her to raise the age.

"Ten years old, that's so young. It's like a baby to me. Our children need love and a helping hand, not to be thrown into concrete cells," she said.

A spokesman for Mr Dreyfus said the government was working closely with its partners on the issue.

"The decision by the Northern Territory to raise the age to 12 is evidence of the progress being made," he said.

"This working group is paying particular attention to addressing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the criminal justice system."

Earlier, Women's Minister Katy Gallagher said the federal government should be a leader in driving reforms for how sexual assault complaints are dealt with, while also considering important principles of the courts such as the presumption of innocence.

The communique said all participants in the meeting reaffirmed their commitment to improving the experiences and outcomes for victim and survivors of sexual assault in the criminal justice system.

"This will continue to be a priority for participants over the coming year and over the course of the Work Plan to Strengthen Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Assault 2022-2027," it reads.

© AAP 2022

National cabinet has agreed to provide power price relief for households and businesses by imposing caps on coal and gas prices and providing financial support.

Gas prices will be capped to $12 a gigajoule for 12 months, while coal will be temporarily capped at $125 a tonne, following an agreement on Friday between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and state and territory leaders at a virtual national cabinet.

A mandatory code of conduct will be put in place for the gas industry, with federal parliament to be recalled next week to pass the legislation.

A further $1.5 billion will be provided in energy bill relief to support households and businesses, which will be paid through state governments.

Mr Albanese said the bill relief would not be direct cash handouts, to protect inflation levels.

"It will not be the same plan in each state and territory, given each of them have different systems," he said.

"That is part of the complexity of what we have been dealing with is the fact that we have eight different systems around the country."

Treasurers are set to work through a relief package for each state and territory.

Financial relief for energy bills is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2023.

Mr Albanese said extraordinary measures would be taken to lower the cost of energy.

"We're taking urgent action to shield Australian families from the worst impacts of these price hikes," he said.

"We're working hand in hand with our state and territory partners to find the best outcomes for all Australians."

The federal budget forecast a 56 per cent increase in electricity prices and a 44 per cent rise in gas prices for households in the next two years.

The prime minister said 12 months would be the right amount of time to have the temporary measures in place.

"The appropriate way to pay it is through state governments because that is how you take money off people's bills rather than provide cash payments and that is important so that you have a deflationary impact rather than inflationary," he said.

National cabinet was briefed by Australian Energy Regulator chair Clare Savage, who told the meeting there had been downward pressure on energy prices since the federal government indicated it would take action.

Mr Albanese confirmed the consumer watchdog would oversee the monitoring and enforcement of the mandatory code of conduct for gas companies.

© AAP 2022