Australia and the UK will fight back to cyber attacks from China, Russia and Iran, Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton said on the eve of consultations with the UK in Sydney, reports AP.

Australian Defense and Foreign Ministers will meet British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on Friday at the annual Australian-British Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN).

Foreign Secretary Marise Payne said Australia and the UK will coordinate cybersanction regimes to increase deterrence by raising the cost of hostile state activities in cyberspace.

Australia is committed to working with partners like the UK to challenge malicious actors who use technology to undermine freedom and democracy, Payne said in a statement.

Dutton said Friday's meeting will focus on cybersecurity. Both the UK and Australia are regularly attacked by Russia, China, Iran and other countries, he said, adding that they would fight back.

Discussions will also identify areas where Australia and the UK can collaborate in the Indo-Pacific and Australia's nuclear submarine program.