CATHERINE KING MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND MEDICARE
MEMBER FOR BALLARAT
HON LINDA BURNEY MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR HUMAN SERVICES
MEMBER FOR BARTON
MEDICARE DATA BREACH EXPOSES MORE LIBERAL INCOMPETENCE
The revelation that Australians’ Medicare identities are available for purchase on the darkweb is incomprehensible. But equally disturbing is the Turnbull Government’s incompetent response.
As reported this morning, darkweb vendors are claiming to have any Medicare number available for less than $30 – something that has serious repercussions not only for identification fraud, but for the integrity of our entire Medicare system.
The Government’s attempt to dodge questions on this simply isn’t good enough – the lack of information on this serious security breach is pathetic and Australians deserve better.
Alan Tudge’s statement this morning not only failed to provide basic information about the Government’s response to the breach, it brought up more questions than it answered.
Did the Government only find out about this serious data breach when it was contacted by a journalist?
How long has this information been available?
How many Australians have had their data breached?
When will the Government inform Australians that their data has been breached?
What is the Government doing to fix any vulnerabilities in the Medicare database?
Alan Tudge can’t hide behind a media release – he needs to front up, face the Australian people and explain why the Government information that uniquely identifies them is up for grabs for less than $30.
This information is at the heart of our Medicare system – and the Turnbull Government can’t protect it.
If Australians can’t trust the Turnbull Government to keep our most sensitive information safe, how can they trust them with anything?
TUESDAY, 4 JULY 2017