❓ A WA parliamentary question reveals the Department of Education reported a significant number of stolen laptops, prompting scrutiny of security measures and financial losses. Other agencies within the Minister's portfolio reported no stolen devices.
AnsweredQoN 4429Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many laptop, notebook and palm computers from each department and agency within the Minister’s portfolio have been reported stolen for the 12 months from 30 June 2009 to 30 June 2010?
(2) What was the total value of the computers that were lost or stolen?
(3) Did any of these computers contain information that could be regarded as sensitive?
(4) What steps have been taken to ensure that any commercial or sensitive information was not compromised?
(5) Was the loss or theft of any of these computers reported to the police; and
(a) if yes, when were these reports made;
(b) of those reported, what has been the outcome; and
(c) if any were not reported to the police, why not?
(6) What steps, if any, have been put into place with a view to eliminating, or at least reducing, these losses; and
(a) when were these steps put into place?
(2) What was the total value of the computers that were lost or stolen?
(3) Did any of these computers contain information that could be regarded as sensitive?
(4) What steps have been taken to ensure that any commercial or sensitive information was not compromised?
(5) Was the loss or theft of any of these computers reported to the police; and
(a) if yes, when were these reports made;
(b) of those reported, what has been the outcome; and
(c) if any were not reported to the police, why not?
(6) What steps, if any, have been put into place with a view to eliminating, or at least reducing, these losses; and
(a) when were these steps put into place?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 February 2011
Responded by
Minister for Education; Tourism
Response time
82 days
For the Curriculum Council of WA
(1) - (2) None.
(3) - (6) Not applicable.
For the Department of Education Services
(1) None.
(2) - (5) Not applicable.
(6) The Department adopts a standard practice to undertake an audit twice a year to ensure all computers are accounted for. A booking system is also in place should staff wish to borrow a laptop. The process is outlined in the staff induction booklet.
(6)(a) June 2008.
For the Department of Education
(1) 441 notebook/laptop computers have been reported stolen. No palm computers have been reported stolen. No notebook/laptop or palm computers were reported as lost.
(2) The total value of the stolen notebook/laptop computers is $222 092.34.
(3) There have been no reports of stolen notebook/laptop computers containing sensitive information.
(4) The Department's Information and Communication Technologies Policy states "...computer infrastructure and services used by the Department of Education must be protected from theft and from unauthorised access, disclosure, modification and destruction." The policy also states "All users of the Department's computerised information and computer infrastructure and services must comply with security controls." This policy outlines the security controls. It is complemented by the Telecommunications Use Policy, which covers acceptable use and protection of corporate information. Notebooks for Teachers Program notebooks are protected by a username/password function to protect user logon accounts.
(5) Yes.
(5)(a) The Department of Education requires staff to report thefts as soon as practical following the theft.
(5)(b) In most cases, the outcome is an insurance claim. Recovery of stolen notebooks is rare; no units were returned by Police between 30 June 2009 and 30 June 2010.
(5)(c) Not applicable.
(6) The majority of cases result from home burglaries and theft from private vehicles. Included in the Terms and Conditions of participating in the Notebooks for Teachers Program is the statement, "You must not leave the notebook unattended in a non?secure environment. This could include the outside of your home or property, the cabin of a motor vehicle and unsecured and unattended classrooms or offices or public places."
(6)(a) July 2002.
For the Country High School Hostels Authority
(1) None.
(2) - (5) Not applicable.
(6) Equipment security is addressed as part of risk management process.
For the Public Education Endowment Trust
(1) None.
(2) - (6) Not applicable.
For Tourism WA and Rottnest Island Authority
(1) None.
(2) - (6) Not applicable.
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(1) - (2) None.
(3) - (6) Not applicable.
For the Department of Education Services
(1) None.
(2) - (5) Not applicable.
(6) The Department adopts a standard practice to undertake an audit twice a year to ensure all computers are accounted for. A booking system is also in place should staff wish to borrow a laptop. The process is outlined in the staff induction booklet.
(6)(a) June 2008.
For the Department of Education
(1) 441 notebook/laptop computers have been reported stolen. No palm computers have been reported stolen. No notebook/laptop or palm computers were reported as lost.
(2) The total value of the stolen notebook/laptop computers is $222 092.34.
(3) There have been no reports of stolen notebook/laptop computers containing sensitive information.
(4) The Department's Information and Communication Technologies Policy states "...computer infrastructure and services used by the Department of Education must be protected from theft and from unauthorised access, disclosure, modification and destruction." The policy also states "All users of the Department's computerised information and computer infrastructure and services must comply with security controls." This policy outlines the security controls. It is complemented by the Telecommunications Use Policy, which covers acceptable use and protection of corporate information. Notebooks for Teachers Program notebooks are protected by a username/password function to protect user logon accounts.
(5) Yes.
(5)(a) The Department of Education requires staff to report thefts as soon as practical following the theft.
(5)(b) In most cases, the outcome is an insurance claim. Recovery of stolen notebooks is rare; no units were returned by Police between 30 June 2009 and 30 June 2010.
(5)(c) Not applicable.
(6) The majority of cases result from home burglaries and theft from private vehicles. Included in the Terms and Conditions of participating in the Notebooks for Teachers Program is the statement, "You must not leave the notebook unattended in a non?secure environment. This could include the outside of your home or property, the cabin of a motor vehicle and unsecured and unattended classrooms or offices or public places."
(6)(a) July 2002.
For the Country High School Hostels Authority
(1) None.
(2) - (5) Not applicable.
(6) Equipment security is addressed as part of risk management process.
For the Public Education Endowment Trust
(1) None.
(2) - (6) Not applicable.
For Tourism WA and Rottnest Island Authority
(1) None.
(2) - (6) Not applicable.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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