Page 437 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 21 March 2023
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MR BARR: That is clearly a contested area, as the interjections demonstrate. But, if you want better government services, they have to be paid for.
Canberra Health Services—data security
MR COCKS: My question is to the Minister for Mental Health. Minister, the email that outlines the data breach of patient privacy is dated as having circulated within the directorate some time ago, on 6 March. Minister, when did you personally become aware of the privacy breach, and what action did you take at that time?
MS DAVIDSON: Thank you for the question. I was made aware of this issue in recent weeks. I have received assurances from CHS that they are following all of the proper procedures around making sure that they are going through patient disclosure, understanding the extent of what happened and following correct processes in terms of referring it for external investigation.
MR COCKS: Minister, why didn’t you make a public statement as soon as you became aware of this issue, instead of waiting until it appeared in the media?
MS DAVIDSON: Thank you for the question. There are procedures to be followed when a breach of this nature occurs, and those include ensuring that there is patient disclosure about what has happened and what this means for them, and making sure that we are looking after people who are in a vulnerable state during a difficult process. I have been assured by CHS that they are doing all of the right things to make sure that patients are being looked after in this situation, and it is important that those things happen before this is talked about in the media, as has now happened.
Ms Castley: On a point of order, Mr Acting Speaker, the question was: why didn’t the minister make a public statement? I do not know that she answered that.
MR ACTING SPEAKER: Minister?
MS DAVIDSON: Thank you for clarifying that question. The proper process, when a breach of this nature occurs is for the health service to be able to go through a patient disclosure process. It is the right thing to do to be talking to the patients, who are at the centre of good health care, before—
Opposition members interjecting—
Mr Davis: A point of order.
MR ACTING SPEAKER: A point of order, Mr Davis?
Mr Davis: Mr Acting Speaker, if members of the opposition wish to ask questions and then answer themselves, they can have an adjournment debate, but I cannot hear the minister answer the question.
MR ACTING SPEAKER: I think Mr Davis has a fair point. Could we let the minister use the last 30 seconds, please.
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