But a spokesperson for the Department of Defence said work has already begun at the department to comply with the new measures and the deadline will be met.

The spokesperson said agencies have been given two years to comply "allowing it to be built into agency workplans".

Once government agencies all comply with the new "protective markings" mandate there is the potential for commercial partners and the private sector to adopt similar standards of compliance.

Trevor Laughton, Clearswift enterprise relationship manager, said the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) believes these guidelines are unique in the world and that Australia is leading the charge.

"These regulations have been introduced to create a standard and from a vendor point of view we have to show customers the business benefits of compliance - not just the stick that is being waved by the federal government," Laughton said, adding that plans are afoot to extend the standard to state governments.