Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Roberts, for a really important question about something that has concerned all Australians. I will have to come back to you on notice with the answers to your specific questions. You have sought some particular figures there that I don't have ready to hand; although I, like you, have certainly heard the reports of the number of Australians being affected to be in the vicinity of nine or 10 million but I want to make sure I give you accurate formation about that.

But I think what we can all agree on is that Optus's handling of this matter has been very unsatisfactory, from the issues around its initial disclosure of this data breach to, frankly, it's communication with the Australian public and the government about this issue and what it's doing to fix it. So your initial question about whether it complied with one of its obligations, again, I will need to come back to you on notice and I will do that as quickly as I can. But if its track record over the last few days is any indication then I do have concerns about Optus's compliance with its obligations under the law. Again, I am happy to come back to you with specific answers.