Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 730

❓ Question regarding the Minister's and their staff's handling of Cabinet in Confidence (CiC) information, specifically concerning transmission via text message, iMessage, WhatsApp, and fax. The answer avoids direct responses, citing established practice and ministerial responsibility.

AnsweredQoN 730Legislative Assembly

Asked

14 June 2017

Member

Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup

Portfolio

Premier; Minister for Public Sector Management; State Development, Jobs and Trade; Federal-State Relations

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Is the Minister aware of 2017 Cabinet Handbook guidelines with respect to the handling of Cabinet in Confidence (CiC) information? (2) Since 17 March 2017 has the Minister or their staff transmitted CiC information via text message, iMessage or WhatsApp, and if yes: (a) what service was used and to whom was that information conveyed; (b) as per the Cabinet handbook was the information marked "Not to be Copied"; (c) can the Minister rule out that CiC information was not stored on a third party server; and (d) has the Minister sought approval for use of this service by the Cabinet Secretariat? (3) Since 17 March 2017 has the Minister or their staff transmitted CiC information via fax, and if yes: (a) to whom was that information conveyed; and (b) as per the Cabinet Handbook was the document destroyed after it's use?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

8 August 2017

Response time

8 days

It is longstanding practice that the Department of the Premier and Cabinet does not disclose Cabinet in Confidence information. Ministers have been informed on the requirements of the Cabinet Handbook and their responsibilities concerning Cabinet in Confidence material and as per the Ministerial Code of Conduct they are expected to observe those requirements.

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