Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, Senator Fifield. I refer to reports that the person overseeing the rollout of Mr Turnbull's NBN, Bill Morrow, was chief executive at Vodafone Australia when the phone of Fairfax investigative reporter Natalie O'Brien was hacked. When did the minister first become aware of these allegations? Was it before or after appointing Mr Morrow?

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am advised that the minister was aware of claims that a Vodafone employee accessed the phone records of a Fairfax reporter. The Telecommunications Act 1997 and the Privacy Act 1988 provide strong protections prohibiting unauthorised access of a person's telecommunications information. It is also an offence under the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 for anyone to access a stored communication without a warrant. This includes text messages. I understand that Vodafone has issued a statement about the matter, advising that it commissioned an independent investigation. I understand that Vodafone has taken action as a result of this incident to strengthen its internal privacy arrangements and has appointed a dedicated privacy officer.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Is the minister aware that the Telecommunications Act provides criminal sanctions for the hacking of customer accounts by a telephone company or its employees? Can the minister confirm that Mr Morrow and his company knew about the wrongdoing but failed to immediately report it to the police?

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have given Senator Conroy the information that I have.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. As the minister responsible for the Telecommunications Act, what action has Mr Turnbull undertaken to ensure and uphold the protection of telephone users' data and to ensure his hand-picked CEO has no questions to answer, like why Mr Morrow did not refer a criminal act discovered under his watch to the Federal Police for prosecution?

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will take the senator's question on notice. If I can add further to what I have said, I will.