Information watchdog files civil penalty proceedings against Optus over 2022 data breach
The Australian Information Commissioner (AIC) filed civil penalty proceedings against Optus today after investigations into a data breach at the telecom giant that was made public at the end of 2022.
The AIC alleges Optus “seriously interfered with the privacy” of about 9.5 million Australians by failing to take “reasonable steps to protect their personal information from misuse, interference and loss, and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure”. That alleged interference – and allegations Optus failed to adequately manage the cybersecurity of customers – took place between October 2019 and September 2022, when the data breach was reported.
Elizabeth Tydd, the body’s commissioner, said in a statement:
The commencement of these proceedings confirms that the OAIC will take the action necessary to uphold the rights of the Australian community. Organisations hold personal information within legal requirements and based upon trust.
The Australian community should have confidence that organisations will act accordingly, and if they don’t the OAIC as regulator will act to secure those rights.
The federal court can impose a civil penalty of up to $2.22m for each contravention of the Privacy Act of 1988. The AIC will allege one contravention for each of the 9.5 individuals impacted by the data breach. Any order, and the amount, are matters to be decided by the court.
Key events
Video footage of Gareth Ward’s resignation from NSW parliament
The member for Kiama, Gareth Ward, who was convicted of one count of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of indecent assault involving two young men in 2013 and 2015, has resigned before the New South Wales parliament was due to expel him.
Ward is appealing those convictions. The resignation automatically vacates his south coast seat and a byelection will be held. The seat was held by Ward for the Liberal party since 2011 until he was expelled from the party and ran as an independent in 2023.
You can watch the resignation being announced here:
Luca Ittimani
Sydney and Toronto had equivalent home prices, then Canada’s crashed. Could Australia see a similar slump?
At the start of 2022, the typical house in Australia and Canada was worth about $840,000 in each country’s local currency.
Australian city prices have climbed by about A$85,000 over the subsequent three years, while Canadian prices have crashed by C$150,000, leaving the median Canadian home nearly 20% cheaper.
The Canadian correction has raised questions over whether properties in Australia, economically comparable to its Commonwealth comrade, could face a similar selldown.
So, should Australian homeowners worry? Read more here:
Information watchdog files civil penalty proceedings against Optus over 2022 data breach
The Australian Information Commissioner (AIC) filed civil penalty proceedings against Optus today after investigations into a data breach at the telecom giant that was made public at the end of 2022.
The AIC alleges Optus “seriously interfered with the privacy” of about 9.5 million Australians by failing to take “reasonable steps to protect their personal information from misuse, interference and loss, and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure”. That alleged interference – and allegations Optus failed to adequately manage the cybersecurity of customers – took place between October 2019 and September 2022, when the data breach was reported.
Elizabeth Tydd, the body’s commissioner, said in a statement:
The commencement of these proceedings confirms that the OAIC will take the action necessary to uphold the rights of the Australian community. Organisations hold personal information within legal requirements and based upon trust.
The Australian community should have confidence that organisations will act accordingly, and if they don’t the OAIC as regulator will act to secure those rights.
The federal court can impose a civil penalty of up to $2.22m for each contravention of the Privacy Act of 1988. The AIC will allege one contravention for each of the 9.5 individuals impacted by the data breach. Any order, and the amount, are matters to be decided by the court.
Minns says you can’t be behind bars ‘drawing a parliamentary salary’ after Ward’s resignation
NSW premier Chris Minns just spoke after Gareth Ward’s resignation. Minns said:
We believe this resignation should have come earlier and circumstances relating to it meant that a lot of time, effort and energy was spent in the New South Wales supreme court, proving what most people who live in the state would have known instinctively, and that is if you’re convicted of some of the most serious charges, sexual assault in New South Wales, you can’t sit as a serving member of parliament, drawing a parliamentary salary.
How can you represent your community from behind bars in Cessnock? The government and the parliament needed to make a decision to protect the integrity of the Legislative Assembly, and we have done just that.
Leader of NSW Legislative Assembly says Ward saga has been a ‘pretty shameful exercise’
Ron Hoenig, the leader of the NSW Legislative Assembly, just spoke after Gareth Ward’s resignation.
Hoenig said:
Not in 107 years has this House been required to expel a member. And the fact that we were about to make such a determination is a pretty shameful exercise and should have been done following the verdict by the jury.
Because the failure of the former member for Kiama to respect the verdict of the jury, who convicted him for serious sexual offences, demonstrated not only lack of respect to the jury of his peers, this House and the traditions of this House, but to the people of Kiama, who had entrusted them to be able to properly represent them.
Convicted rapist Gareth Ward resigns from NSW parliament
Anne Davies
The member for Kiama, Gareth Ward, who was convicted of rape and three counts of indecent assault involving two young men in 2013 and 2015 has resigned just before the New South Wales parliament was due to expel him.
The resignation automatically vacates his south coast seat and a byelection will be held. The seat was held by Ward for the Liberal party since 2011 until he was expelled from the party and ran as an independent in 2023.
Ward is appealing his criminal convictions. He is due to be sentenced next month.
Read more here:
Lisa Cox
Murray Watt disappointed by US memo urging rejection of plastic treaty goals
The environment minister, Murray Watt, has expressed disappointment this morning after receiving a memo from the United States urging Australia to reject the goal of a global plastics treaty that aims to limit plastic production and ban certain chemicals in plastics.
Speaking to the RN Breakfast on Friday, Watt confirmed Australia was among a handful of countries to receive the memo, first reported by Reuters.
Watt said Australia and nearly 100 other countries had a different position to the US, which was among major plastics producing nations attempting to hinder efforts to reach an ambitious agreement:
It’s obviously disappointing that there are some countries in the world who are opposing this action.
As I say … what brings those countries together is the fact that they are the major plastic producers and I guess they’ve got less of an interest in making the kind of changes that so much of the world wants to see.
But it won’t stop us continuing to push for a strong treaty and working with the majority of countries in the world who want to see that because we are seeing too much harm created by too much plastic in our environment.
Nino Bucci
Video record of Erin Patterson’s interview with police will be published, judge says
The judge in Erin Patterson’s case will allow the publication of her video record of interview with police and of material from pre-trial hearings, the Victorian supreme court just heard.
Patterson, 50, appeared via video link on Friday morning.
Justice Beale said that a plea hearing in her case – when the prosecution and defence make submissions about her sentence – would be held over two days starting 25 August.
When he asked Jane Warren, for the DPP, how many victim impact statements were expected, she responded “all I can say is a lot, your honour”.
Beale then made rulings about the material which could be published, including an edited video of the interview she did with police in August 2023, a week after the lunch.
Other material was heard in pre-trial hearings but excluded from evidence put before the jury as it was ruled unfairly prejudicial to Patterson.
Patterson did not speak during the brief hearing, other than to confirm shortly before it started that she could see and hear the court.
Her lawyers are required to file their submissions regarding her sentence by 18 August, with prosecution submissions – including victim impact statements – due four days later.
Five pro-Palestine protesters arrested in Melbourne
Adeshola Ore
Five pro-Palestine protesters have been arrested in Melbourne’s CBD during a sit-in calling for sanctions against Israel and the end of suffering in Gaza.
Across the country on Thursday, hundreds of Australian university and school students joined pro-Palestine protests.
Video of the arrests in Melbourne shows protesters sitting on the ground before being carried away by multiple police officers.
Bella Beiraghi, a Melbourne University student and co-convener of Students for Palestine, said protesters were “sitting down, peacefully protesting, when armed police ripped us off the ground and carried us away”.
Police said about 300 protesters gathered at the State Library, with the group then marching to Flinders Street and blocking the intersection.
A spokesperson for Victoria police said five protesters were arrested for obstructing the roadway and one male was moved on for breaching the peace.
On Thursday evening, the spokesperson said the five protesters arrested were expected to be charged on summons.
Tom McIlroy
PM to meet with New Zealand counterpart this weekend
Anthony Albanese will meet with his New Zealand counterpart, Christopher Luxon, during a flying visit across the Tasman this weekend.
The two prime ministers will hold their annual bilateral talks on Saturday, following their last meeting in Canberra in August last year.
The two leaders are expected to talk about opportunities to further develop the single economic market, ways to strengthen defence and security cooperation, environmental protection and enhance joint efforts across the Pacific. Albanese said Friday:
As neighbours, friends and family, the bonds between our countries, our economies and our communities are unmatched.
I look forward to discussing how we can work together to build on our single economic market, modernise the rules-based trading system, deepen our alliance and back our Pacific partners.
NSW parliament to vote on expulsion of Gareth Ward
Anne Davies
The NSW parliament will vote at 10.30am to expel the member for Kiama, Gareth Ward, who was convicted of rape and assault with indecent acts a fortnight ago.
The motion is expected to pass and will trigger a byelection in the south coast seat.
Here’s the motion the MPs in the legislative assembly will vote on. It will be moved by the leader of the house:
Mr RON HOENIG: I move:
That standing and sessional orders be suspended to permit:
(1) The giving of a notice of a motion forthwith regarding the expulsion of the member for Kiama and the declaration of the seat vacant.
(2) The routine of business on Friday 8 August be interrupted at 10.30 a.m. to permit the moving and debate of the motion to expel the member for Kiama.
(3) That standing and sessional orders be suspended during the debate to allow the moving of the motion for the expulsion of the member for Kiama, who is in custody and unable to be present for debate on the motion.
Nino Bucci
Erin Patterson’s court hearing in Melbourne has started.
Patterson can be seen, dressed in black, looking out the window in the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre’s Gordon unit.
Nino Bucci
Triple murderer Erin Patterson back in court
Erin Patterson, 50, is back in the Victorian supreme court on Friday, where she will learn more about the timeline for her sentencing.
Patterson will appear via video link in the supreme court in Melbourne – not Morwell, where the trial was held.
The short hearing before Justice Christopher Beale is set to start about 9.30am and will determine a date for a plea hearing.
A plea hearing is designed for the prosecution and defence to make submissions about the sentence Patterson should receive.
Patterson was found guilty of murdering three relatives and attempting to murder a fourth with a deadly beef wellington lunch laced with death cap mushrooms on 7 July.
She was found guilty of murdering Don and Gail Patterson, the parents of her estranged husband, Simon Paterson, and his aunt, Heather Wilkinson. The 12-person jury also found Patterson guilty of attempting to murder Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, who survived the lunch after spending weeks in hospital.
