Media release – Madeleine Ogilvie, Minister for Science and Technology, 4 April 2023
Cyber security update
The Tasmanian Government continues to investigate a compromise of a contracted third-party file transfer service.
There is still no indication of any data being publicly released.
Minister for Science and Technology, Madeleine Ogilvie, said the Tasmanian Government continues to engage with relevant State and Federal authorities, including the Australian Cyber Security Centre.
“The nature of the information in possession of the third-party contractor at the time of the compromise is part of the current investigations,” she said.
“We are taking swift action to investigate this breach and ascertain if any information has been compromised. We will continue to provide updated information as it becomes available.”
Minister Ogilvie, who this morning attended a Cyber Security Networking Breakfast hosted by TasICT and Telstra, said “the security of government information and the safety of Tasmanians will always be of paramount importance.”
“At this morning’s Cyber Security Networking Breakfast, speakers called on governments and stakeholders to work together to meet the ongoing challenges of cyber security, and that is what our Government is focused on,” she said.
“In the 2020-21 Budget, we increased funding for cyber security to $4.9 million over four years for the Whole of Tasmanian Government Cyber Security Program.”
Media release – Jen Butler MP, Shadow Minister for ICT, Science and Technology, 4 April 2023
Poor state of Tasmanian Government cyber security no surprise
The fact that the Tasmanian Government has been a target of a cyber-attack is no surprise, with new information showing years of neglect of the digital portfolio by the Liberals.
An independent report produced by Intermedium (attached) shows Tasmania ranks last in Government Cyber Security Readiness.
The report notes that “cybersecurity [was] not highly prioritised” by the Tasmanian Government (page 64).
While the report does point to increased digital and cyber security funding as a positive, the Government has failed to put their money where their mouth is.
The 2021-22 DPAC annual report (page 89) shows there was a significant budget variation “due to delays in the Cyber Security initiative.”
To make things worse, the Government is remaining secretive about the extent of the latest breach, with Tasmanians none-the-wiser about the security of their own personal data.
Labor’s request to be briefed on the matter have been refused in writing by Minister Ogilvie.
It’s a fact that the Tasmanian Government is one of 130 entities compromised by Russian hackers.
However given her recent handling the racing portfolio, it wouldn’t be surprising if Minister Ogilvie came out and said Tasmanian data security had never been in better shape.
Tasmanians are right to be concerned about their personal information under the management of incompetent Minister Ogilvie.
Media release – Dean Winter MP, Leader of Opposition Business, 6 April 2023
Premier must put Tasmanians ahead of himself and sack Madeline Ogilvie
The depth of Madeleine Ogilvie’s incompetence is staggering. It now appears limitless as she lurches from one crisis to another.
On Monday she told Tasmanians there was no threat to their personal data from Russian hackers. By Wednesday she admitted names, addresses and bank accounts held by the Department of Education, Children and Young People ‘could have been’ accessed by those same Russian hackers.
This followed revelations Tasmania was the jurisdiction least ready for cyber security attack in Australia and New Zealand.
This is a Minister who has spent more time trying to launch a Tasmanian Space Program than she has ensuring data about Tasmanian children is kept safe.
This follows her appalling handling of the racing portfolio. She has overseen allegations of race fixing and animal welfare breaches that were ignored by the Office of Racing Integrity. When faced with questions about these issues she said racing had never been in better shape and asked ORI to investigate itself.
Finally, the Premier intervened and ordered an independent investigation.
But it’s now well past time for the Premier to intervene again.
The only reason he has not already sacked her is to protect his leadership and his majority. He is putting his own political interests ahead of the safety of Tasmanians and of the $200 million Tasmanian racing industry.
Jeremy Rockliff must act today, before Easter, before any more damage is done.
