Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Hume for the question. This is a really disappointing issue. Commercially sensitive information from the MAS Panel has again been inadvertently disclosed by the Department of Finance in an administrative error. I would have to check the date, but it was around 19 or 20 February that I was advised, and Finance had certainly been in touch with my office. I was travelling last week, so I would just have to check that. I think on 21 February the secretary issued a statement on the disclosure of information, and I think the next day the secretary also announced a review into how these two MAS Panel disclosures have occurred.

I've spoken again on my return from overseas with the secretary about the work that has been done, including individually contacting suppliers and working very closely with them through the department to seek undertakings from them. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I understand that there were a number where the email hadn't been opened and the email was deleted after contact by the Department of Finance. But I can tell you that the department is doing everything it can to ensure that we minimise the impact on suppliers and certainly that this never happens again. I would also say that there is work being done to support staff that have been involved in this, and the inquiry will get to the bottom of what has led to the error in disclosure of this sensitive information.