Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Communications. Last week it was revealed by Channel 7's The Nightly that telecommunications companies in Victoria are charging for information desperately needed by police to search for murdered Victorian mother Samantha Murphy. Not only were they charging the police for this information; they were delaying passage of it to the police. A former homicide detective told The Nightly that police face financial, legal and technical barriers in their attempts to access phone data. The Victorian shadow police minister said: 'Delays in investigations are devastating to the families of victims and to think anyone is profiting while families suffer is appalling.' A mother is missing, and the telcos are charging the police to help find her. How shameful is that? Is the minister aware that the telecommunications companies are slow to deliver vital data that could help with police investigations?