❓ Dr. Nahan questions Premier McGowan about Huawei's involvement in WA government projects, citing espionage concerns. McGowan acknowledges limited Huawei involvement via Optus and highlights its widespread use, suggesting potential past Liberal government involvement.
AnsweredQoN 895Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC TRANSPORT — WI-FI SERVICES —
HUAWEI
895. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Premier:
I refer to the front page article of
the most recent edition of The Weekend Australian titled ''China
used Huawei to hack network, says secret report'', which contains the
following quote —
� Chinese espionage services used
telecommunications giant Huawei's staff to get access �
Given Chinese telco giant Huawei has
been involved in espionage, will the Premier now outline the full extent of
Huawei's future involvement in WA government projects or is he still
conveniently unaware of the details?
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Mines and Petroleum!
HUAWEI
895. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Premier:
I refer to the front page article of
the most recent edition of The Weekend Australian titled ''China
used Huawei to hack network, says secret report'', which contains the
following quote —
� Chinese espionage services used
telecommunications giant Huawei's staff to get access �
Given Chinese telco giant Huawei has
been involved in espionage, will the Premier now outline the full extent of
Huawei's future involvement in WA government projects or is he still
conveniently unaware of the details?
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Mines and Petroleum!
AnswerView source ↗
I do not know the details of the
story that was in The Weekend Australian . Obviously, I saw a story, but
I do not know the veracity of that particular story. I am aware that there is a
free wi-fi trial at Subiaco and Elizabeth Quay train stations and on two buses
on the 950 bus route. The company that has been awarded that is Optus and Optus
is using some Huawei equipment, like it currently does for the 4G work. The
Public Transport Authority has advised that Huawei has supplied Optus with
commercially available routers and access points—that is, off-the-shelf
hardware. The use of the wi-fi is optional for all passengers and no personal
data is collected. The wi-fi system is separate to all other PTA systems, and
as such a security assessment was not required in this instance. Just so members are aware, Optus and Vodafone use Huawei
hardware and equipment, as I said, in their 4G network. Sydney Trains uses
Huawei as its sole supplier of technology. New South Wales Ambulance has contracted
Huawei to provide information and communications technology services. The Gold
Coast Metricon Stadium uses a wi-fi network that was built by Huawei. The
Victorian government–owned South East Water is using a Huawei-built
communication system. Santos, the oil and gas company, is using a 4G wi-fi
network built by Huawei. I suspect, if I were to investigate, that the federal
government uses Huawei infrastructure, hardware, all over the place.
Dr M.D. Nahan : You do not
know though.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I might
inquire into it.
Dr M.D. Nahan : You are just
speculating.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I have just
outlined to the Leader of the Opposition —
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition!
Mr M. McGOWAN : As I outlined
a moment ago, some of the equipment being used, which I suspect was put in
place when the Liberal Party was in office, is using routers and access points—that
is, off-the-shelf hardware —
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Transport!
Mr M. McGOWAN : — that
I suspect someone could buy down at Dick Smith or JB Hi-Fi or somewhere like that. Dick Smith does not exist anymore, so you do
not buy it at Dick Smith; you buy it at JB Hi-Fi. If the Leader of the
Opposition's case is built upon the fact that Huawei hardware is used,
I think Huawei is the biggest telecommunications hardware supplier in the
entire world and members will find it all over the place, probably on some of
their phones, journalists' phones and modems. I might investigate what
the last government did in terms of that sort of thing and find out.
Ms R. Saffioti : There is the
mobile blackspot program that he administered.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Transport!
Mr M. McGOWAN : There is the
mobile blackspot program that the former government administered. Please tell
us more, minister!
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Transport!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Did Optus win
any of those contracts when the former government was in office and did it use
any Huawei hardware? Maybe I will investigate that and I might try to get back
to the Leader of the Opposition today or tomorrow in question time and give him
a few facts.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Transport, I call you to order for the first time.
Tabling of Paper
Dr M.D. NAHAN : The Premier
was clearly reading from a document, could you ask him to table the document?
The SPEAKER : Is it an
official document?
Mr M. McGOWAN : They are notes
prepared for Parliament. You can read them if you want.
The SPEAKER : Paper tabled.
Mr M. McGOWAN : No, I did not
say that. They are not official documents.
The SPEAKER : Is it an
official document, Premier?
Mr M. McGOWAN : No, it is not.
The SPEAKER : It does not have
to be tabled, sorry.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : For goodness
sake.
The SPEAKER : It is not an
official document; it does not have to be tabled.
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE :
Just on that, Mr Speaker, the Premier did offer it to you to look at to check
whether it was an official document. I ask that he give it to you so you can
check the document and make a ruling.
Mr M. McGOWAN : It is up to you,
Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : Yes, can I have
a look.
Mr M. McGOWAN : They are notes
prepared for Parliament.
The SPEAKER : They are only
notes prepared for Parliament, so is not an official document.
story that was in The Weekend Australian . Obviously, I saw a story, but
I do not know the veracity of that particular story. I am aware that there is a
free wi-fi trial at Subiaco and Elizabeth Quay train stations and on two buses
on the 950 bus route. The company that has been awarded that is Optus and Optus
is using some Huawei equipment, like it currently does for the 4G work. The
Public Transport Authority has advised that Huawei has supplied Optus with
commercially available routers and access points—that is, off-the-shelf
hardware. The use of the wi-fi is optional for all passengers and no personal
data is collected. The wi-fi system is separate to all other PTA systems, and
as such a security assessment was not required in this instance. Just so members are aware, Optus and Vodafone use Huawei
hardware and equipment, as I said, in their 4G network. Sydney Trains uses
Huawei as its sole supplier of technology. New South Wales Ambulance has contracted
Huawei to provide information and communications technology services. The Gold
Coast Metricon Stadium uses a wi-fi network that was built by Huawei. The
Victorian government–owned South East Water is using a Huawei-built
communication system. Santos, the oil and gas company, is using a 4G wi-fi
network built by Huawei. I suspect, if I were to investigate, that the federal
government uses Huawei infrastructure, hardware, all over the place.
Dr M.D. Nahan : You do not
know though.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I might
inquire into it.
Dr M.D. Nahan : You are just
speculating.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I have just
outlined to the Leader of the Opposition —
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition!
Mr M. McGOWAN : As I outlined
a moment ago, some of the equipment being used, which I suspect was put in
place when the Liberal Party was in office, is using routers and access points—that
is, off-the-shelf hardware —
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Transport!
Mr M. McGOWAN : — that
I suspect someone could buy down at Dick Smith or JB Hi-Fi or somewhere like that. Dick Smith does not exist anymore, so you do
not buy it at Dick Smith; you buy it at JB Hi-Fi. If the Leader of the
Opposition's case is built upon the fact that Huawei hardware is used,
I think Huawei is the biggest telecommunications hardware supplier in the
entire world and members will find it all over the place, probably on some of
their phones, journalists' phones and modems. I might investigate what
the last government did in terms of that sort of thing and find out.
Ms R. Saffioti : There is the
mobile blackspot program that he administered.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Transport!
Mr M. McGOWAN : There is the
mobile blackspot program that the former government administered. Please tell
us more, minister!
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Transport!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Did Optus win
any of those contracts when the former government was in office and did it use
any Huawei hardware? Maybe I will investigate that and I might try to get back
to the Leader of the Opposition today or tomorrow in question time and give him
a few facts.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Transport, I call you to order for the first time.
Tabling of Paper
Dr M.D. NAHAN : The Premier
was clearly reading from a document, could you ask him to table the document?
The SPEAKER : Is it an
official document?
Mr M. McGOWAN : They are notes
prepared for Parliament. You can read them if you want.
The SPEAKER : Paper tabled.
Mr M. McGOWAN : No, I did not
say that. They are not official documents.
The SPEAKER : Is it an
official document, Premier?
Mr M. McGOWAN : No, it is not.
The SPEAKER : It does not have
to be tabled, sorry.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : For goodness
sake.
The SPEAKER : It is not an
official document; it does not have to be tabled.
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE :
Just on that, Mr Speaker, the Premier did offer it to you to look at to check
whether it was an official document. I ask that he give it to you so you can
check the document and make a ruling.
Mr M. McGOWAN : It is up to you,
Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : Yes, can I have
a look.
Mr M. McGOWAN : They are notes
prepared for Parliament.
The SPEAKER : They are only
notes prepared for Parliament, so is not an official document.
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