❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the loss or theft of laptops and other portable computers from various government departments and agencies in the six months to 30 June 2007. The responses detail the number of devices lost, their value, whether sensitive information was compromised, and the steps taken to prevent future losses.
AnsweredQoN 2524Legislative Assembly
Asked
14 August 2007
Member
Portfolio
Employment Protection; Housing and Works; Indigenous Affairs; Heritage; Land Information
QuestionView source ↗
(a) how many laptop, notebook and palm computers have been reported lost or stolen for the six months to 30 June 2007;
(b) what was the total value of the computers that were lost or stolen;
(c) did any of these computers contain information that could be regarded as sensitive;
(d) what steps have been taken to ensure that any commercial or sensitive information was not compromised;
(e) was the loss or theft of any of these computers reported to the police;
(f) if yes to (e), when were these reports made;
(g) of those reported, what has been the outcome;
(h) if any computers that were lost or stolen were not reported to the police, why not;
(i) what steps, if any, have been put into place with a view to eliminating, or at least reducing, these losses; and
(j) when were these steps put into place?
(b) what was the total value of the computers that were lost or stolen;
(c) did any of these computers contain information that could be regarded as sensitive;
(d) what steps have been taken to ensure that any commercial or sensitive information was not compromised;
(e) was the loss or theft of any of these computers reported to the police;
(f) if yes to (e), when were these reports made;
(g) of those reported, what has been the outcome;
(h) if any computers that were lost or stolen were not reported to the police, why not;
(i) what steps, if any, have been put into place with a view to eliminating, or at least reducing, these losses; and
(j) when were these steps put into place?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 September 2007
Responded by
Minister for Employment Protection; Housing and Works; Indigenous Affairs; Heritage; Land Information
Response time
35 days
Ministerial Office:
Please refer to question on notice 2518.
The Employment Protection arm of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection (DOCEP) advises:
(a) One.
(b) $1795 + GST.
(c) No.
(d) Not applicable.
(e) Yes.
(f) Same day as discovered missing - ie: 7 May 2007.
(g) Not recovered.
(h) Not applicable.
(i) Security policy regarding laptops at Energy Safety (ES) has been reviewed by Executive Director. As such, effective 21 May 2007 all personnel who have notebook PC's within ES are required to either lock the notebook PC away in an appropriate area at the end of each working day, or alternatively take the notebook PC home.
(j) Two weeks after theft - ie: 21 May 2007.
Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission advises:
(a) None
(b) -(j) Not applicable
WorkCover advises:
(a) None
(b)-(j) Not applicable
Construction Industry Long Service Leave Payments Board advises:
(a) None
(b)-(j) Not applicable
The Department of Housing and Works advises:
a) One Laptop Computer was reported stolen.
b) The replacement cost of the laptop was $1,641
c) The information on the laptop was classified as "E-mail messages; letters; memos; tender documentation; building plans etc. that will not compromise; disclose or embarrass the Department of Housing and Works; or that are already in the Public Domain"
d) n/a
e) Yes, a Police Report was made
f) 23 February 2007
g) No charges have been laid and no recovery of property
h) n/a
i) The loss/theft of the laptop was from a cabinet inside a regional office while the officer responsible for the laptop was on annual leave. This was a one-off occurrence, and as such existing procedures to minimise these losses are considered to be adequate.
j) n/a
The Department of Indigenous Affairs advises:
(a) One laptop stolen in the six months to 30 June 2007;
(b) $1700
(c) No sensitive information was on the stolen laptop;
(d) All departmental laptops are password protected and therefore the data is not easily accessible to a user who steals a laptop;
(e) Yes
(f) 27 February 2007
(g) Not recovered
(h) Not applicable
(i) Users are regularly informed to look after their assigned assets. The Department of Indigenous Affairs has in the past trialled the use of special software and engraving but it did not prove operationally useful.
(j) The specialist software and engraving was trialled in 2002.
Heritage Council of Australia advises:
(a) Nil
(b)- (j) Not applicable
National Trust of Australia (WA) advises:
(a) Nil
(b)- (j) Not applicable
Landgate advises:
(a) Nil
(b)- (j) Not applicable
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Please refer to question on notice 2518.
The Employment Protection arm of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection (DOCEP) advises:
(a) One.
(b) $1795 + GST.
(c) No.
(d) Not applicable.
(e) Yes.
(f) Same day as discovered missing - ie: 7 May 2007.
(g) Not recovered.
(h) Not applicable.
(i) Security policy regarding laptops at Energy Safety (ES) has been reviewed by Executive Director. As such, effective 21 May 2007 all personnel who have notebook PC's within ES are required to either lock the notebook PC away in an appropriate area at the end of each working day, or alternatively take the notebook PC home.
(j) Two weeks after theft - ie: 21 May 2007.
Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission advises:
(a) None
(b) -(j) Not applicable
WorkCover advises:
(a) None
(b)-(j) Not applicable
Construction Industry Long Service Leave Payments Board advises:
(a) None
(b)-(j) Not applicable
The Department of Housing and Works advises:
a) One Laptop Computer was reported stolen.
b) The replacement cost of the laptop was $1,641
c) The information on the laptop was classified as "E-mail messages; letters; memos; tender documentation; building plans etc. that will not compromise; disclose or embarrass the Department of Housing and Works; or that are already in the Public Domain"
d) n/a
e) Yes, a Police Report was made
f) 23 February 2007
g) No charges have been laid and no recovery of property
h) n/a
i) The loss/theft of the laptop was from a cabinet inside a regional office while the officer responsible for the laptop was on annual leave. This was a one-off occurrence, and as such existing procedures to minimise these losses are considered to be adequate.
j) n/a
The Department of Indigenous Affairs advises:
(a) One laptop stolen in the six months to 30 June 2007;
(b) $1700
(c) No sensitive information was on the stolen laptop;
(d) All departmental laptops are password protected and therefore the data is not easily accessible to a user who steals a laptop;
(e) Yes
(f) 27 February 2007
(g) Not recovered
(h) Not applicable
(i) Users are regularly informed to look after their assigned assets. The Department of Indigenous Affairs has in the past trialled the use of special software and engraving but it did not prove operationally useful.
(j) The specialist software and engraving was trialled in 2002.
Heritage Council of Australia advises:
(a) Nil
(b)- (j) Not applicable
National Trust of Australia (WA) advises:
(a) Nil
(b)- (j) Not applicable
Landgate advises:
(a) Nil
(b)- (j) 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
http://www.rtlib.com
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