❓ Mr. Zempilas requests detailed information on the capture, retention, and disposal of ministerial communications via SMS, Signal, and WhatsApp. The government declined to answer, citing resource constraints.
AnsweredQoN 720Legislative Assembly
Asked
9 September 2025
Member
Portfolio
Deputy Premier; Treasurer; Minister for Transport; Sport and Recreation
QuestionView source ↗
(1) For the period 17 March 2017 to present, please provide the number of state records captured that originated as ministerial or ministerial-office communications via (i) SMS, (ii) Signal, and (iii) WhatsApp, broken down by calendar year and by platform? (2) For each year and platform, how many items were: (a) captured into the approved recordkeeping system; (b) assessed as ephemeral and not captured; (c) disposed of under an approved retention and disposal authority (specify the authority code); and (d) transferred to State archives (if any)? (3) Please provide the above in a tabular form? (4) Since 17 March 2017, how many FOI searches undertaken by the Minister’s office encompassed SMS/Signal/WhatsApp content, and in how many cases were such records located and released (in full or part)? Provide annual counts? (5) Please table the current ministerial/office recordkeeping plan, policies and procedures that govern the capture, retention and disposal of such messages, including any Department of the Premier and Cabinet guidance relied upon? (6) Are “disappearing messages” or auto-delete settings (on any platform) permitted for communications about official business : (a) If permitted, under what controls; and (b) If not, when was this prohibited?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 October 2025
Response time
6 days
The Member is requesting a significant amount of information and detail. The information requested is not readily available and collecting it would divert staff away from their normal duties, and is not considered to be a reasonable or appropriate use of government resources.
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