❓ Mrs Roberts questions Premier Barnett on the government's failure to address computer security weaknesses identified by the Auditor General, particularly regarding personal data protection in agencies like Western Power and the Government Employees Superannuation Board. The Premier acknowledges the issues and outlines ongoing efforts with the Commonwealth.
AnsweredQoN 364Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES — COMPUTER SECURITY — AUDITOR GENERAL’S REPORT
In April 2009 the Auditor General delivered an information systems report on computer security in government agencies warning of fundamental “weaknesses in security and data processing controls” for computer applications and databases. Then yesterday, over two years later, he released an even more damning report. (1) Why should the Premier not stand condemned for failing to take action to protect the sensitive, personal and commercially confidential information stored on government databases? (2) Given that agencies found wanting included Western Power, the Water Corporation and Synergy, what assurances can the Premier give people who pay their bills by credit card that their information is secure? (3) Given the Auditor General’s comments about the Government Employees Superannuation Board, can the Premier guarantee its 320 000 members that their private information, including date of birth, home address, user name, password and tax file number have not been hacked? Mr C.J. BARNETT
In April 2009 the Auditor General delivered an information systems report on computer security in government agencies warning of fundamental “weaknesses in security and data processing controls” for computer applications and databases. Then yesterday, over two years later, he released an even more damning report. (1) Why should the Premier not stand condemned for failing to take action to protect the sensitive, personal and commercially confidential information stored on government databases? (2) Given that agencies found wanting included Western Power, the Water Corporation and Synergy, what assurances can the Premier give people who pay their bills by credit card that their information is secure? (3) Given the Auditor General’s comments about the Government Employees Superannuation Board, can the Premier guarantee its 320 000 members that their private information, including date of birth, home address, user name, password and tax file number have not been hacked? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) The government accepts the findings and recommendations made by the Auditor General and we will work through those progressively. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You have not done that in the last two years! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Please! There have been further reports. Also, the state government has been working closely with the commonwealth in dealing with what could be described as cyber attacks on security systems within the state. I believe that personal information is secure, but if members read the newspaper, particularly some of the international press, they will find that there are breaches in the security systems that are of the highest order, including the United States defence records and the like. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is a wholesale shambles; this is different. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the member’s question! For the member to suggest that I stand here and say that everything is absolutely secure would be a ludicrous position. However, I can tell the member that we are working with the commonwealth and that there have been deliberate industrial espionage issues relating to businesses and to a government department in Western Australia. We are working with the commonwealth on that, and we will take on board the advice and recommendations of the Auditor General. Indeed, consideration is being given to appointing a senior person to check and monitor this. The ability for people to hack into systems is well known. No-one from the President of the United States down can stand with his hand on his heart and say that every system is secure. Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
(1) Why should the Premier not stand condemned for failing to take action to protect the sensitive, personal and commercially confidential information stored on government databases? (2) Given that agencies found wanting included Western Power, the Water Corporation and Synergy, what assurances can the Premier give people who pay their bills by credit card that their information is secure? (3) Given the Auditor General’s comments about the Government Employees Superannuation Board, can the Premier guarantee its 320 000 members that their private information, including date of birth, home address, user name, password and tax file number have not been hacked? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The government accepts the findings and recommendations made by the Auditor General and we will work through those progressively. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You have not done that in the last two years! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Please! There have been further reports. Also, the state government has been working closely with the commonwealth in dealing with what could be described as cyber attacks on security systems within the state. I believe that personal information is secure, but if members read the newspaper, particularly some of the international press, they will find that there are breaches in the security systems that are of the highest order, including the United States defence records and the like. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is a wholesale shambles; this is different. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the member’s question! For the member to suggest that I stand here and say that everything is absolutely secure would be a ludicrous position. However, I can tell the member that we are working with the commonwealth and that there have been deliberate industrial espionage issues relating to businesses and to a government department in Western Australia. We are working with the commonwealth on that, and we will take on board the advice and recommendations of the Auditor General. Indeed, consideration is being given to appointing a senior person to check and monitor this. The ability for people to hack into systems is well known. No-one from the President of the United States down can stand with his hand on his heart and say that every system is secure. Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
(2) Given that agencies found wanting included Western Power, the Water Corporation and Synergy, what assurances can the Premier give people who pay their bills by credit card that their information is secure? (3) Given the Auditor General’s comments about the Government Employees Superannuation Board, can the Premier guarantee its 320 000 members that their private information, including date of birth, home address, user name, password and tax file number have not been hacked? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The government accepts the findings and recommendations made by the Auditor General and we will work through those progressively. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You have not done that in the last two years! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Please! There have been further reports. Also, the state government has been working closely with the commonwealth in dealing with what could be described as cyber attacks on security systems within the state. I believe that personal information is secure, but if members read the newspaper, particularly some of the international press, they will find that there are breaches in the security systems that are of the highest order, including the United States defence records and the like. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is a wholesale shambles; this is different. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the member’s question! For the member to suggest that I stand here and say that everything is absolutely secure would be a ludicrous position. However, I can tell the member that we are working with the commonwealth and that there have been deliberate industrial espionage issues relating to businesses and to a government department in Western Australia. We are working with the commonwealth on that, and we will take on board the advice and recommendations of the Auditor General. Indeed, consideration is being given to appointing a senior person to check and monitor this. The ability for people to hack into systems is well known. No-one from the President of the United States down can stand with his hand on his heart and say that every system is secure. Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
(3) Given the Auditor General’s comments about the Government Employees Superannuation Board, can the Premier guarantee its 320 000 members that their private information, including date of birth, home address, user name, password and tax file number have not been hacked? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The government accepts the findings and recommendations made by the Auditor General and we will work through those progressively. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You have not done that in the last two years! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Please! There have been further reports. Also, the state government has been working closely with the commonwealth in dealing with what could be described as cyber attacks on security systems within the state. I believe that personal information is secure, but if members read the newspaper, particularly some of the international press, they will find that there are breaches in the security systems that are of the highest order, including the United States defence records and the like. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is a wholesale shambles; this is different. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the member’s question! For the member to suggest that I stand here and say that everything is absolutely secure would be a ludicrous position. However, I can tell the member that we are working with the commonwealth and that there have been deliberate industrial espionage issues relating to businesses and to a government department in Western Australia. We are working with the commonwealth on that, and we will take on board the advice and recommendations of the Auditor General. Indeed, consideration is being given to appointing a senior person to check and monitor this. The ability for people to hack into systems is well known. No-one from the President of the United States down can stand with his hand on his heart and say that every system is secure. Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The government accepts the findings and recommendations made by the Auditor General and we will work through those progressively. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You have not done that in the last two years! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Please! There have been further reports. Also, the state government has been working closely with the commonwealth in dealing with what could be described as cyber attacks on security systems within the state. I believe that personal information is secure, but if members read the newspaper, particularly some of the international press, they will find that there are breaches in the security systems that are of the highest order, including the United States defence records and the like. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is a wholesale shambles; this is different. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the member’s question! For the member to suggest that I stand here and say that everything is absolutely secure would be a ludicrous position. However, I can tell the member that we are working with the commonwealth and that there have been deliberate industrial espionage issues relating to businesses and to a government department in Western Australia. We are working with the commonwealth on that, and we will take on board the advice and recommendations of the Auditor General. Indeed, consideration is being given to appointing a senior person to check and monitor this. The ability for people to hack into systems is well known. No-one from the President of the United States down can stand with his hand on his heart and say that every system is secure. Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
(1)–(3) The government accepts the findings and recommendations made by the Auditor General and we will work through those progressively. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You have not done that in the last two years! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Please! There have been further reports. Also, the state government has been working closely with the commonwealth in dealing with what could be described as cyber attacks on security systems within the state. I believe that personal information is secure, but if members read the newspaper, particularly some of the international press, they will find that there are breaches in the security systems that are of the highest order, including the United States defence records and the like. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is a wholesale shambles; this is different. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the member’s question! For the member to suggest that I stand here and say that everything is absolutely secure would be a ludicrous position. However, I can tell the member that we are working with the commonwealth and that there have been deliberate industrial espionage issues relating to businesses and to a government department in Western Australia. We are working with the commonwealth on that, and we will take on board the advice and recommendations of the Auditor General. Indeed, consideration is being given to appointing a senior person to check and monitor this. The ability for people to hack into systems is well known. No-one from the President of the United States down can stand with his hand on his heart and say that every system is secure. Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : You have not done that in the last two years! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Please! There have been further reports. Also, the state government has been working closely with the commonwealth in dealing with what could be described as cyber attacks on security systems within the state. I believe that personal information is secure, but if members read the newspaper, particularly some of the international press, they will find that there are breaches in the security systems that are of the highest order, including the United States defence records and the like. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is a wholesale shambles; this is different. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the member’s question! For the member to suggest that I stand here and say that everything is absolutely secure would be a ludicrous position. However, I can tell the member that we are working with the commonwealth and that there have been deliberate industrial espionage issues relating to businesses and to a government department in Western Australia. We are working with the commonwealth on that, and we will take on board the advice and recommendations of the Auditor General. Indeed, consideration is being given to appointing a senior person to check and monitor this. The ability for people to hack into systems is well known. No-one from the President of the United States down can stand with his hand on his heart and say that every system is secure. Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Please! There have been further reports. Also, the state government has been working closely with the commonwealth in dealing with what could be described as cyber attacks on security systems within the state. I believe that personal information is secure, but if members read the newspaper, particularly some of the international press, they will find that there are breaches in the security systems that are of the highest order, including the United States defence records and the like. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is a wholesale shambles; this is different. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the member’s question! For the member to suggest that I stand here and say that everything is absolutely secure would be a ludicrous position. However, I can tell the member that we are working with the commonwealth and that there have been deliberate industrial espionage issues relating to businesses and to a government department in Western Australia. We are working with the commonwealth on that, and we will take on board the advice and recommendations of the Auditor General. Indeed, consideration is being given to appointing a senior person to check and monitor this. The ability for people to hack into systems is well known. No-one from the President of the United States down can stand with his hand on his heart and say that every system is secure. Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
Mr E.S. Ripper : This is a wholesale shambles; this is different. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the member’s question! For the member to suggest that I stand here and say that everything is absolutely secure would be a ludicrous position. However, I can tell the member that we are working with the commonwealth and that there have been deliberate industrial espionage issues relating to businesses and to a government department in Western Australia. We are working with the commonwealth on that, and we will take on board the advice and recommendations of the Auditor General. Indeed, consideration is being given to appointing a senior person to check and monitor this. The ability for people to hack into systems is well known. No-one from the President of the United States down can stand with his hand on his heart and say that every system is secure. Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the member’s question! For the member to suggest that I stand here and say that everything is absolutely secure would be a ludicrous position. However, I can tell the member that we are working with the commonwealth and that there have been deliberate industrial espionage issues relating to businesses and to a government department in Western Australia. We are working with the commonwealth on that, and we will take on board the advice and recommendations of the Auditor General. Indeed, consideration is being given to appointing a senior person to check and monitor this. The ability for people to hack into systems is well known. No-one from the President of the United States down can stand with his hand on his heart and say that every system is secure. Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
(1) Why should the Premier not stand condemned for failing to take action to protect the sensitive, personal and commercially confidential information stored on government databases? (2) Given that agencies found wanting included Western Power, the Water Corporation and Synergy, what assurances can the Premier give people who pay their bills by credit card that their information is secure? (3) Given the Auditor General’s comments about the Government Employees Superannuation Board, can the Premier guarantee its 320 000 members that their private information, including date of birth, home address, user name, password and tax file number have not been hacked? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The government accepts the findings and recommendations made by the Auditor General and we will work through those progressively. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You have not done that in the last two years! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Please! There have been further reports. Also, the state government has been working closely with the commonwealth in dealing with what could be described as cyber attacks on security systems within the state. I believe that personal information is secure, but if members read the newspaper, particularly some of the international press, they will find that there are breaches in the security systems that are of the highest order, including the United States defence records and the like. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is a wholesale shambles; this is different. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the member’s question! For the member to suggest that I stand here and say that everything is absolutely secure would be a ludicrous position. However, I can tell the member that we are working with the commonwealth and that there have been deliberate industrial espionage issues relating to businesses and to a government department in Western Australia. We are working with the commonwealth on that, and we will take on board the advice and recommendations of the Auditor General. Indeed, consideration is being given to appointing a senior person to check and monitor this. The ability for people to hack into systems is well known. No-one from the President of the United States down can stand with his hand on his heart and say that every system is secure. Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
(2) Given that agencies found wanting included Western Power, the Water Corporation and Synergy, what assurances can the Premier give people who pay their bills by credit card that their information is secure? (3) Given the Auditor General’s comments about the Government Employees Superannuation Board, can the Premier guarantee its 320 000 members that their private information, including date of birth, home address, user name, password and tax file number have not been hacked? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The government accepts the findings and recommendations made by the Auditor General and we will work through those progressively. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You have not done that in the last two years! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Please! There have been further reports. Also, the state government has been working closely with the commonwealth in dealing with what could be described as cyber attacks on security systems within the state. I believe that personal information is secure, but if members read the newspaper, particularly some of the international press, they will find that there are breaches in the security systems that are of the highest order, including the United States defence records and the like. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is a wholesale shambles; this is different. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the member’s question! For the member to suggest that I stand here and say that everything is absolutely secure would be a ludicrous position. However, I can tell the member that we are working with the commonwealth and that there have been deliberate industrial espionage issues relating to businesses and to a government department in Western Australia. We are working with the commonwealth on that, and we will take on board the advice and recommendations of the Auditor General. Indeed, consideration is being given to appointing a senior person to check and monitor this. The ability for people to hack into systems is well known. No-one from the President of the United States down can stand with his hand on his heart and say that every system is secure. Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
(3) Given the Auditor General’s comments about the Government Employees Superannuation Board, can the Premier guarantee its 320 000 members that their private information, including date of birth, home address, user name, password and tax file number have not been hacked? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The government accepts the findings and recommendations made by the Auditor General and we will work through those progressively. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You have not done that in the last two years! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Please! There have been further reports. Also, the state government has been working closely with the commonwealth in dealing with what could be described as cyber attacks on security systems within the state. I believe that personal information is secure, but if members read the newspaper, particularly some of the international press, they will find that there are breaches in the security systems that are of the highest order, including the United States defence records and the like. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is a wholesale shambles; this is different. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the member’s question! For the member to suggest that I stand here and say that everything is absolutely secure would be a ludicrous position. However, I can tell the member that we are working with the commonwealth and that there have been deliberate industrial espionage issues relating to businesses and to a government department in Western Australia. We are working with the commonwealth on that, and we will take on board the advice and recommendations of the Auditor General. Indeed, consideration is being given to appointing a senior person to check and monitor this. The ability for people to hack into systems is well known. No-one from the President of the United States down can stand with his hand on his heart and say that every system is secure. Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The government accepts the findings and recommendations made by the Auditor General and we will work through those progressively. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You have not done that in the last two years! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Please! There have been further reports. Also, the state government has been working closely with the commonwealth in dealing with what could be described as cyber attacks on security systems within the state. I believe that personal information is secure, but if members read the newspaper, particularly some of the international press, they will find that there are breaches in the security systems that are of the highest order, including the United States defence records and the like. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is a wholesale shambles; this is different. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the member’s question! For the member to suggest that I stand here and say that everything is absolutely secure would be a ludicrous position. However, I can tell the member that we are working with the commonwealth and that there have been deliberate industrial espionage issues relating to businesses and to a government department in Western Australia. We are working with the commonwealth on that, and we will take on board the advice and recommendations of the Auditor General. Indeed, consideration is being given to appointing a senior person to check and monitor this. The ability for people to hack into systems is well known. No-one from the President of the United States down can stand with his hand on his heart and say that every system is secure. Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
(1)–(3) The government accepts the findings and recommendations made by the Auditor General and we will work through those progressively. Mrs M.H. Roberts : You have not done that in the last two years! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Please! There have been further reports. Also, the state government has been working closely with the commonwealth in dealing with what could be described as cyber attacks on security systems within the state. I believe that personal information is secure, but if members read the newspaper, particularly some of the international press, they will find that there are breaches in the security systems that are of the highest order, including the United States defence records and the like. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is a wholesale shambles; this is different. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the member’s question! For the member to suggest that I stand here and say that everything is absolutely secure would be a ludicrous position. However, I can tell the member that we are working with the commonwealth and that there have been deliberate industrial espionage issues relating to businesses and to a government department in Western Australia. We are working with the commonwealth on that, and we will take on board the advice and recommendations of the Auditor General. Indeed, consideration is being given to appointing a senior person to check and monitor this. The ability for people to hack into systems is well known. No-one from the President of the United States down can stand with his hand on his heart and say that every system is secure. Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : You have not done that in the last two years! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Please! There have been further reports. Also, the state government has been working closely with the commonwealth in dealing with what could be described as cyber attacks on security systems within the state. I believe that personal information is secure, but if members read the newspaper, particularly some of the international press, they will find that there are breaches in the security systems that are of the highest order, including the United States defence records and the like. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is a wholesale shambles; this is different. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the member’s question! For the member to suggest that I stand here and say that everything is absolutely secure would be a ludicrous position. However, I can tell the member that we are working with the commonwealth and that there have been deliberate industrial espionage issues relating to businesses and to a government department in Western Australia. We are working with the commonwealth on that, and we will take on board the advice and recommendations of the Auditor General. Indeed, consideration is being given to appointing a senior person to check and monitor this. The ability for people to hack into systems is well known. No-one from the President of the United States down can stand with his hand on his heart and say that every system is secure. Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Please! There have been further reports. Also, the state government has been working closely with the commonwealth in dealing with what could be described as cyber attacks on security systems within the state. I believe that personal information is secure, but if members read the newspaper, particularly some of the international press, they will find that there are breaches in the security systems that are of the highest order, including the United States defence records and the like. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is a wholesale shambles; this is different. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the member’s question! For the member to suggest that I stand here and say that everything is absolutely secure would be a ludicrous position. However, I can tell the member that we are working with the commonwealth and that there have been deliberate industrial espionage issues relating to businesses and to a government department in Western Australia. We are working with the commonwealth on that, and we will take on board the advice and recommendations of the Auditor General. Indeed, consideration is being given to appointing a senior person to check and monitor this. The ability for people to hack into systems is well known. No-one from the President of the United States down can stand with his hand on his heart and say that every system is secure. Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
Mr E.S. Ripper : This is a wholesale shambles; this is different. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the member’s question! For the member to suggest that I stand here and say that everything is absolutely secure would be a ludicrous position. However, I can tell the member that we are working with the commonwealth and that there have been deliberate industrial espionage issues relating to businesses and to a government department in Western Australia. We are working with the commonwealth on that, and we will take on board the advice and recommendations of the Auditor General. Indeed, consideration is being given to appointing a senior person to check and monitor this. The ability for people to hack into systems is well known. No-one from the President of the United States down can stand with his hand on his heart and say that every system is secure. Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the member’s question! For the member to suggest that I stand here and say that everything is absolutely secure would be a ludicrous position. However, I can tell the member that we are working with the commonwealth and that there have been deliberate industrial espionage issues relating to businesses and to a government department in Western Australia. We are working with the commonwealth on that, and we will take on board the advice and recommendations of the Auditor General. Indeed, consideration is being given to appointing a senior person to check and monitor this. The ability for people to hack into systems is well known. No-one from the President of the United States down can stand with his hand on his heart and say that every system is secure. Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : This is not about espionage; this is about incompetence! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to stand here and be rubbished by this mob. Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Forrestfield to order for the first time today. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Girrawheen to order for the first time today.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.