Former government avoids sanction over NationBuilder saga – but Ombudsman issues warning

The former state government has escaped sanction for redirecting web users through a data-harvesting platform – but the Ombudsman has issued a stern warning.

The former government has escaped sanction for redirecting web users through data-harvesting platform NationBuilder when they clicked links on government websites.

In a carefully worded report, Ombudsman Wayne Lines found “it does not appear data was produced in any meaningful form” — but issued a warning reminding all political parties of the importance of keeping party and government infrastructure separate.

The investigation was launched after it was revealed that when a person clicks on a link “for more information” on a media release published on a government website, it redirected them to that extra information via stateliberalleader.nationbuilder.com – a NationBuilder domain owned by the Liberal Party.

The former government repeatedly stated it has not been collecting or tracking people’s data for the Liberal Party via government websites.

Former premier Steven Marshall repeatedly said the former government had not been collecting or tracking data for the Liberal Party. Picture: Brenton Edwards

In the report, released Monday, Mr Lines said media releases had been distributed by the office of the Premier to agencies through a distribution list managed by NationBuilder.

“It appeared that the practice had been inadvertently carried over when the former government was elected and the practice ceased in March 2021,” he said.

“It appeared possible that employees of a range of agencies had cut hyperlinks from the media releases and pasted them onto agency resources without understanding potential implications.”

Mr Lines said expert advice indicated the data was not produced in any meaningful form.

“I determined, in my discretion, that it is not in the public interest to take further action in relation to the matter,” he said.

“Even so, the use of stateliberalleader.nationbuilder.com for the management of media distribution lists by the former government as a carry-over from being in opposition is regrettable and created the perception of public information being used for party-political purposes.”

Opposition Leader David Speirs said Labor’s pursual of the issue, led by former government accountability spokesman Tom Koutsantonis, had “all turned into hyperbole”.

“The Ombudsman has essentially said there’s nothing further to look at here and there are no concerns stemming from it,” he said.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said the current government would also review the report.

“We know there were very significant allegations against the former Liberal government in terms of how they use the data of the people of South Australia and we would make sure that any recommendations the Ombudsman makes are carefully considered,” he said.