Gladys Berejiklian an ‘asset’ for post-hack Optus, former top cop says

Optus could do worse than call in former Premier Gladys Berejiklian amid the chaos of the company’s data breach, former top cop Mick Fuller says.

The Optus hacking scandal is a “real wake up call for Australian businesses” according to former NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller, who said former premier Gladys Berejiklian is the right person to help Optus through their data breach crisis.

Mr Fuller, now at big four accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers as a crisis management expert, said Ms Berejiklian – now an executive at the embattled telco – should “absolutely” be brought in by Optus to assist in containing the disaster given her past experiences.

When asked if Optus should be using Ms Berejiklian more, Mr Fuller said: “Absolutely. With her experience in crisis management she’ll no doubt be an asset in these difficult times.”

Gladys Berejiklian at Northbridge Plaza early Tuesday morning. Picture: John Grainger

The former top cop also warned other Australian companies need to do more to be ready for cyber threats.

“One thing I’ve learned is big companies can only be prepared for these threats if they’re testing their own systems for vulnerability – and that testing needs to be daily,” he said.

Gladys Berejiklian is an “asset” for Optus in this crisis, Mick Fuller says. Picture: John Grainger

Ms Berejiklian became Optus’ managing director of enterprise and business in February. Picture: Jane Dempster

While Premier Dominic Perrottet said it was “a matter for Optus” on what role Ms Berejiklian played in the drama, he added he had been in daily contact with Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin about the breach.

He stated while NSW residents had flooded Service NSW to change their licence numbers after they were identified in the leaked info, the Premier said it wasn’t “necessary” due to the stronger security systems in place on government data.

Marketing expert Toby Ralph said Optus could tap into the “goodwill” NSW residents still felt towards Ms Berejiklian.

“Companies and people build a reservoir of goodwill that they can draw on when things go bad. Right now, Optus has emptied theirs, and they are less popular than a power bill in Paramatta,” he said.

“They employ Gladys Berejiklian, and may be tempted to wheel her out as chief apologist, because she remains respected, and her reservoir of goodwill is still pretty full.”