Question regarding the Premier's responsibility for computer security failures in government agencies following an Auditor General's report. The Premier deflects direct responsibility for illegal access attempts but acknowledges the need for robust security measures and ongoing improvements.

AnsweredQoN 365Legislative Assembly
Asked
16 June 2011
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES — COMPUTER SECURITY — AUDITOR GENERAL’S REPORT
I have a supplementary question. As the Premier has responsibility for public sector management, does he take responsibility for these failures, and will the Premier, like the commonwealth, ensure a standard of security in government agencies? Mr C.J. BARNETT

AnswerView source ↗

I do not take responsibility for what are illegal attempts to access confidential information of the government, including personal information. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is a pointless exercise! Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Forrestfield wants to ask a question, please do! You stand out in this Parliament for achieving nothing, so at least get up occasionally and ask a question! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, I formally call you to order for the first time today. If members want questions answered, more silence would be appreciated. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do take responsibility for ensuring that the highest level of confidentiality and security that is practical is put in place to secure information in government agencies, including government trading enterprises. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not pretend to be an expert on computer or regular security. Consideration is going on in government about appointing a senior person within Treasury to oversee all of the security standards across government. But we live in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : You do not have a security standard! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is not true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : It is true. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Midland wants to answer her own question, by all means she can jump over this side of the house and answer it, and then go back! There are security measures in place. We are working with the commonwealth and, indeed, commonwealth security agencies have been involved in Perth trying to protect confidential information from attack. We do not take this lightly. I welcome and accept the findings and recommendations of the Auditor General.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I do not take responsibility for what are illegal attempts to access confidential information of the government, including personal information. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is a pointless exercise! Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Forrestfield wants to ask a question, please do! You stand out in this Parliament for achieving nothing, so at least get up occasionally and ask a question! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, I formally call you to order for the first time today. If members want questions answered, more silence would be appreciated. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do take responsibility for ensuring that the highest level of confidentiality and security that is practical is put in place to secure information in government agencies, including government trading enterprises. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not pretend to be an expert on computer or regular security. Consideration is going on in government about appointing a senior person within Treasury to oversee all of the security standards across government. But we live in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : You do not have a security standard! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is not true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : It is true. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Midland wants to answer her own question, by all means she can jump over this side of the house and answer it, and then go back! There are security measures in place. We are working with the commonwealth and, indeed, commonwealth security agencies have been involved in Perth trying to protect confidential information from attack. We do not take this lightly. I welcome and accept the findings and recommendations of the Auditor General.
I do not take responsibility for what are illegal attempts to access confidential information of the government, including personal information. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is a pointless exercise! Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Forrestfield wants to ask a question, please do! You stand out in this Parliament for achieving nothing, so at least get up occasionally and ask a question! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, I formally call you to order for the first time today. If members want questions answered, more silence would be appreciated. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do take responsibility for ensuring that the highest level of confidentiality and security that is practical is put in place to secure information in government agencies, including government trading enterprises. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not pretend to be an expert on computer or regular security. Consideration is going on in government about appointing a senior person within Treasury to oversee all of the security standards across government. But we live in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : You do not have a security standard! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is not true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : It is true. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Midland wants to answer her own question, by all means she can jump over this side of the house and answer it, and then go back! There are security measures in place. We are working with the commonwealth and, indeed, commonwealth security agencies have been involved in Perth trying to protect confidential information from attack. We do not take this lightly. I welcome and accept the findings and recommendations of the Auditor General.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is a pointless exercise! Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Forrestfield wants to ask a question, please do! You stand out in this Parliament for achieving nothing, so at least get up occasionally and ask a question! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, I formally call you to order for the first time today. If members want questions answered, more silence would be appreciated. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do take responsibility for ensuring that the highest level of confidentiality and security that is practical is put in place to secure information in government agencies, including government trading enterprises. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not pretend to be an expert on computer or regular security. Consideration is going on in government about appointing a senior person within Treasury to oversee all of the security standards across government. But we live in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : You do not have a security standard! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is not true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : It is true. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Midland wants to answer her own question, by all means she can jump over this side of the house and answer it, and then go back! There are security measures in place. We are working with the commonwealth and, indeed, commonwealth security agencies have been involved in Perth trying to protect confidential information from attack. We do not take this lightly. I welcome and accept the findings and recommendations of the Auditor General.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is a pointless exercise! Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Forrestfield wants to ask a question, please do! You stand out in this Parliament for achieving nothing, so at least get up occasionally and ask a question! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, I formally call you to order for the first time today. If members want questions answered, more silence would be appreciated. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do take responsibility for ensuring that the highest level of confidentiality and security that is practical is put in place to secure information in government agencies, including government trading enterprises. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not pretend to be an expert on computer or regular security. Consideration is going on in government about appointing a senior person within Treasury to oversee all of the security standards across government. But we live in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : You do not have a security standard! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is not true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : It is true. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Midland wants to answer her own question, by all means she can jump over this side of the house and answer it, and then go back! There are security measures in place. We are working with the commonwealth and, indeed, commonwealth security agencies have been involved in Perth trying to protect confidential information from attack. We do not take this lightly. I welcome and accept the findings and recommendations of the Auditor General.
Mr A.J. Waddell interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Forrestfield wants to ask a question, please do! You stand out in this Parliament for achieving nothing, so at least get up occasionally and ask a question! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, I formally call you to order for the first time today. If members want questions answered, more silence would be appreciated. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do take responsibility for ensuring that the highest level of confidentiality and security that is practical is put in place to secure information in government agencies, including government trading enterprises. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not pretend to be an expert on computer or regular security. Consideration is going on in government about appointing a senior person within Treasury to oversee all of the security standards across government. But we live in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : You do not have a security standard! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is not true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : It is true. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Midland wants to answer her own question, by all means she can jump over this side of the house and answer it, and then go back! There are security measures in place. We are working with the commonwealth and, indeed, commonwealth security agencies have been involved in Perth trying to protect confidential information from attack. We do not take this lightly. I welcome and accept the findings and recommendations of the Auditor General.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Forrestfield wants to ask a question, please do! You stand out in this Parliament for achieving nothing, so at least get up occasionally and ask a question! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, I formally call you to order for the first time today. If members want questions answered, more silence would be appreciated. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do take responsibility for ensuring that the highest level of confidentiality and security that is practical is put in place to secure information in government agencies, including government trading enterprises. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not pretend to be an expert on computer or regular security. Consideration is going on in government about appointing a senior person within Treasury to oversee all of the security standards across government. But we live in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : You do not have a security standard! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is not true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : It is true. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Midland wants to answer her own question, by all means she can jump over this side of the house and answer it, and then go back! There are security measures in place. We are working with the commonwealth and, indeed, commonwealth security agencies have been involved in Perth trying to protect confidential information from attack. We do not take this lightly. I welcome and accept the findings and recommendations of the Auditor General.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, I formally call you to order for the first time today. If members want questions answered, more silence would be appreciated. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do take responsibility for ensuring that the highest level of confidentiality and security that is practical is put in place to secure information in government agencies, including government trading enterprises. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not pretend to be an expert on computer or regular security. Consideration is going on in government about appointing a senior person within Treasury to oversee all of the security standards across government. But we live in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : You do not have a security standard! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is not true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : It is true. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Midland wants to answer her own question, by all means she can jump over this side of the house and answer it, and then go back! There are security measures in place. We are working with the commonwealth and, indeed, commonwealth security agencies have been involved in Perth trying to protect confidential information from attack. We do not take this lightly. I welcome and accept the findings and recommendations of the Auditor General.
The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, I formally call you to order for the first time today. If members want questions answered, more silence would be appreciated. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do take responsibility for ensuring that the highest level of confidentiality and security that is practical is put in place to secure information in government agencies, including government trading enterprises. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not pretend to be an expert on computer or regular security. Consideration is going on in government about appointing a senior person within Treasury to oversee all of the security standards across government. But we live in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : You do not have a security standard! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is not true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : It is true. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Midland wants to answer her own question, by all means she can jump over this side of the house and answer it, and then go back! There are security measures in place. We are working with the commonwealth and, indeed, commonwealth security agencies have been involved in Perth trying to protect confidential information from attack. We do not take this lightly. I welcome and accept the findings and recommendations of the Auditor General.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do take responsibility for ensuring that the highest level of confidentiality and security that is practical is put in place to secure information in government agencies, including government trading enterprises. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not pretend to be an expert on computer or regular security. Consideration is going on in government about appointing a senior person within Treasury to oversee all of the security standards across government. But we live in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : You do not have a security standard! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is not true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : It is true. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Midland wants to answer her own question, by all means she can jump over this side of the house and answer it, and then go back! There are security measures in place. We are working with the commonwealth and, indeed, commonwealth security agencies have been involved in Perth trying to protect confidential information from attack. We do not take this lightly. I welcome and accept the findings and recommendations of the Auditor General.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not pretend to be an expert on computer or regular security. Consideration is going on in government about appointing a senior person within Treasury to oversee all of the security standards across government. But we live in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : You do not have a security standard! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is not true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : It is true. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Midland wants to answer her own question, by all means she can jump over this side of the house and answer it, and then go back! There are security measures in place. We are working with the commonwealth and, indeed, commonwealth security agencies have been involved in Perth trying to protect confidential information from attack. We do not take this lightly. I welcome and accept the findings and recommendations of the Auditor General.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not pretend to be an expert on computer or regular security. Consideration is going on in government about appointing a senior person within Treasury to oversee all of the security standards across government. But we live in — Mrs M.H. Roberts : You do not have a security standard! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is not true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : It is true. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Midland wants to answer her own question, by all means she can jump over this side of the house and answer it, and then go back! There are security measures in place. We are working with the commonwealth and, indeed, commonwealth security agencies have been involved in Perth trying to protect confidential information from attack. We do not take this lightly. I welcome and accept the findings and recommendations of the Auditor General.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : You do not have a security standard! Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is not true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : It is true. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Midland wants to answer her own question, by all means she can jump over this side of the house and answer it, and then go back! There are security measures in place. We are working with the commonwealth and, indeed, commonwealth security agencies have been involved in Perth trying to protect confidential information from attack. We do not take this lightly. I welcome and accept the findings and recommendations of the Auditor General.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is not true. Mrs M.H. Roberts : It is true. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Midland wants to answer her own question, by all means she can jump over this side of the house and answer it, and then go back! There are security measures in place. We are working with the commonwealth and, indeed, commonwealth security agencies have been involved in Perth trying to protect confidential information from attack. We do not take this lightly. I welcome and accept the findings and recommendations of the Auditor General.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : It is true. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Midland wants to answer her own question, by all means she can jump over this side of the house and answer it, and then go back! There are security measures in place. We are working with the commonwealth and, indeed, commonwealth security agencies have been involved in Perth trying to protect confidential information from attack. We do not take this lightly. I welcome and accept the findings and recommendations of the Auditor General.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the member for Midland wants to answer her own question, by all means she can jump over this side of the house and answer it, and then go back! There are security measures in place. We are working with the commonwealth and, indeed, commonwealth security agencies have been involved in Perth trying to protect confidential information from attack. We do not take this lightly. I welcome and accept the findings and recommendations of the Auditor General.
There are security measures in place. We are working with the commonwealth and, indeed, commonwealth security agencies have been involved in Perth trying to protect confidential information from attack. We do not take this lightly. I welcome and accept the findings and recommendations of the Auditor General.

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