Cameron Dick brushes off blame for massive privacy breach

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick has rejected any blame for a privacy breach that saw more than 10,000 Queenslanders sent off other people’s fines – along with private details like names, addresses and rego numbers.

Treasurer Cameron Dick has brushed off blame for a major privacy breach that saw more than 10,000 Queenslanders sent other people’s fines, saying he doesn’t “lick the stamps”.

Mr Dick suggested Brisbane City Council or the State Penalties Enforcement Registry’s external printing and mailing provider could be at fault as he rejected Opposition claims government services were so poor they couldn’t even deliver letters to the right Queenslanders.

“I do not lick the stamp on 2.4 million letters,” Mr Dick told parliament.

“We get someone else to do it.”

But a Brisbane City Council spokesman said Mr Dick should stop shifting blame and starting licking the stamps of the apology letters he should be sending to those affected.

“Whether he licks the stamps or not, Mr Dick is still responsible for SPER,” he said.

“Queenslanders caught up in this mess expect Mr Dick to do his job and fix the issue rather than engage in yet more of his tiresome attempts at blame-shifting.

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“A good place to start would be for Mr Dick to begin licking stamps and sending letters of apology to the thousands of people impacted.”

An external forensic review by Clayton Utz has been launched following the May 9 stuff-up that saw 10,300 people sent fines meant for others and that contained other people’s names, addresses and licence and registration numbers.

“We have engaged a law firm because in matters like this the state always reserves its legal position,” Mr Dick said.

“A legal firm has been engaged to oversee the forensic review and to protect the state’s legal position if further action should be taken.”

He said there had been “an interaction” with a third-party issuing authority.

“I am not saying that it is the Brisbane City Council, but that is one of the authorities that has sent us data,” he said, adding that he hoped the Opposition would be just as critical of the LNP-led Brisbane City Council if it was discovered to be at fault.

Opposition treasury spokesman David Janetzki said Mr Dick’s excuses would do nothing to reassure the thousands of Queenslanders who have had their privacy violated.

“Perhaps the Queenslanders who have had their privacy violated might like to send him a letter with a stamp and let him know he is unfit to be treasurer,” he said.

Originally published as Cameron Dick brushes off blame for massive privacy breach