❓ Mrs. Harvey questions the Premier about a briefing note regarding security risks associated with the automatic train control system and Huawei. The Premier denies knowledge of the specific dates but clarifies the project is a radio system replacement, not ATC, and security checks were conducted.
AnsweredQoN 10Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS —
HUAWEI
10. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I refer to the question I asked
about Huawei on 14 August 2018, querying the Premier's knowledge of
security issues regarding the automatic train control system. His response was —
I am unaware of what the member is
referring to.
(1) Can the
Premier confirm that he received a briefing note from the Office of State
Security and Emergency Coordination on 2 July 2018, which was over a month
before his answer to Parliament?
(2) Can the
Premier confirm that in that briefing note, under the title ''Security
Risks'', an entire section is allocated to the risks associated with the
automatic train control system, including a warning that ''interference
with ATC could be severe''.
HUAWEI
10. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I refer to the question I asked
about Huawei on 14 August 2018, querying the Premier's knowledge of
security issues regarding the automatic train control system. His response was —
I am unaware of what the member is
referring to.
(1) Can the
Premier confirm that he received a briefing note from the Office of State
Security and Emergency Coordination on 2 July 2018, which was over a month
before his answer to Parliament?
(2) Can the
Premier confirm that in that briefing note, under the title ''Security
Risks'', an entire section is allocated to the risks associated with the
automatic train control system, including a warning that ''interference
with ATC could be severe''.
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
am unaware of whatever dates the member is referring to, but I am aware that
the project the government has entered into is the radio system replacement
project. It is not the automated train control project. It is a completely
different project. Clearly, the member for Scarborough does not understand the
difference. I also note—thank you to the Minister for Transport—that
the automatic train control project was separated from the radio replacement
program in 2013–14, when the member was in cabinet.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
M. McGOWAN : Obviously, the member
for Scarborough was not paying much attention back then. The radio system replacement project is a closed system and is a 4G system. It is in
operation in various parts of the world and it runs the Sydney trains. It is a communication
system between train drivers and their headquarters. Prior to the Public
Transport Authority entering into this contract, there was a tender process in which
the winning bidder came out as the number one tenderer. We asked the federal
government—the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation—whether
there were any security concerns. It indicated that there were no security
concerns. After that, or around that time, Rear Admiral John Lord, who is the
Australian head of Huawei, met with the Prime
Minister's office and the Minister for Home Affairs' office,
which confirmed they had no concerns about this.
If the opposition wants to keep on
doing this, it can keep on doing this, but those are the facts behind this
matter.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Member
for Churchlands!
Mr M. McGOWAN : There was a proper
tender process and ASIO advice. The company itself got advice from the federal
government, including the Prime Minister's office and the Minister for
Home Affairs' office, I am advised, and no concerns were expressed.
am unaware of whatever dates the member is referring to, but I am aware that
the project the government has entered into is the radio system replacement
project. It is not the automated train control project. It is a completely
different project. Clearly, the member for Scarborough does not understand the
difference. I also note—thank you to the Minister for Transport—that
the automatic train control project was separated from the radio replacement
program in 2013–14, when the member was in cabinet.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
M. McGOWAN : Obviously, the member
for Scarborough was not paying much attention back then. The radio system replacement project is a closed system and is a 4G system. It is in
operation in various parts of the world and it runs the Sydney trains. It is a communication
system between train drivers and their headquarters. Prior to the Public
Transport Authority entering into this contract, there was a tender process in which
the winning bidder came out as the number one tenderer. We asked the federal
government—the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation—whether
there were any security concerns. It indicated that there were no security
concerns. After that, or around that time, Rear Admiral John Lord, who is the
Australian head of Huawei, met with the Prime
Minister's office and the Minister for Home Affairs' office,
which confirmed they had no concerns about this.
If the opposition wants to keep on
doing this, it can keep on doing this, but those are the facts behind this
matter.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Member
for Churchlands!
Mr M. McGOWAN : There was a proper
tender process and ASIO advice. The company itself got advice from the federal
government, including the Prime Minister's office and the Minister for
Home Affairs' office, I am advised, and no concerns were expressed.
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