Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) expresses its grave concern that a social media account, passwords and potentially the internet-enabled device or devices of the Minister for Defence Industries (Mr Pyne) may have been hacked;

(b) further expresses concern about the potential that Australia's national security may have been placed in a compromising position; and

(c) calls upon the Attorney-General to report back to the Parliament, before it rises, on investigations that have been conducted into the matter.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The account in question was a public online social media account not a Defence, government or parliamentary social media account. There are no defence or national security implications. These things are not uncommon. For example, the Treasurer suffered a similar incident last year, as did the Foreign Minister in 2014. All appropriate action has been taken. It is a salutary reminder to all of us that not everyone out there wishes us goodwill and to routinely change passwords and be mindful of cyber security. The minister's office was alerted by Facebook the previous day that there were also attempts to breach his Facebook account.

Question negatived.