SA Police shelve fraud probe into SA Liberal Party data breach amid fears German hackers to blame

A major data breach of SA Liberal Party members has been linked to suspected European hackers, police suspected, before shelving a fraud probe.

A major data breach of South Australian Liberal Party members in federal electorates has been linked to suspected European hackers, police believe.

Detectives investigated a “sophisticated” deception of party officials from fake emails to obtain confidential details of more than 2000 members in October last year.

The breach, one of the biggest of its type in SA, involved fraudulent messages for lists of names, addresses, phone numbers and email details.

But mystery surrounds who was behind the attack after police failed to identify any suspects after an eight-month investigation.

State Liberal party director Alex May urged anyone with information to call police over the hacking of details linked to the electorate of her partner, Sturt MP James Stevens. Picture: Facebook

It is understood Eastern Adelaide CIB detectives pursued three major leads, which included identifying a European IP address.

The unique “internet protocol” label, which identifies an internet device on in a special location, was believed to be traced to Germany before going cold.

The findings fuelled suspicions hackers were behind the attack rather than disgruntled staffers being responsible.

The other lines of inquiry produced no evidence and no arrests occcured.

Tony Pasin and Australian and New Zealand ICON Cancer Centre Chief, Executive Paul Fenton. Member details linked to Mr Pasin were also hacked. Picture: Arj Ganesan

“The investigation into deception offences involving the alleged release of details of members of a political party has now been completed,” a police spokeswoman said.

“The matter was thoroughly investigated and has been filed pending any new information.”

Senior party sources told of widespread “frustration” no culprit was identified. The party’s state executive was due to receive an update next week but verbal board briefings occurred on Tuesday after The Advertiser’s inquiries.

Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison with Energy Minister Angus Taylor (L), and member for Gray, Rowan Ramsey, at Jim Barry Wines in Clare, SA. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dean Martin.

Breaches centred on Liberal seats of Sturt, held by James Stevens, in Adelaide’s east, and the vast regional seat of Barker, which MP Tony Pasin represents.

Fraudsters also accessed lists from Boothby, an electorate in the southern and western suburbs, which Labor won at last year’s federal poll.

A fourth unsuccessful attempt occurred in Grey, where Liberal Rowan Ramsey represents a vast area of the Eyre Peninsula and Far North.

The Party has since overhauled its administration amid legal concerns of alleged failures to accurately record ­details of financial backers.

In a statement, state director, Alex May said internal systems had changed.

“Immediately following the incident, IT systems and cyber security protocols were boosted to help safeguard and better protect information, including email addresses,” she said.

“The privacy of our members is of utmost importance.”

She urged anyone with information to contact police.