Watchdog blocked on Daniel Andrews’s MP phone audit

EXCLUSIVE: THE State Government is refusing to co-operate with a privacy watchdog probe into Premier Daniel Andrews’s controversial audit of his ministers’ mobile phones.

The State Government is refusing to co-operate with the privacy watchdog’s probe into Premier Daniel Andrews’s controversial audit of his own ministers’ mobile phones. Picture: ThinkStock

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THE State Government is refusing to co-operate with the privacy watchdog’s probe into Premier Daniel Andrews’s controversial audit of his own ministers’ mobile phones.

In December, ministers were told they would have to give their phones to KPMG consultants trying to find the source of a Cabinet leak about police resources. The probe was said to include bureaucrats involved in Cabinet processes.

The Premier’s plan was called a ‘’witch hunt’’ and “Stalinist” by some MPs and it was immediately leaked to the Herald Sun.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’s mobile audit plan has been called a ‘’witch hunt’’ and “Stalinist” by some MPs. Picture: Alex Murray/AAP

On December 16, Victorian Privacy Commissioner David Watts raised concerns about the probe with Mr Andrews’s office, and requested the provision of details on how the pending audit would be run.

In response, Chris Eccles, the secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, has written to advise Mr Watts that the information he was seeking would not be provided to him because of “Cabinet confidentiality”.

This is despite concerns that the probe could be in breach of the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014. The privacy commissioner confirmed that the department had refused to co-operate with the privacy investigation, citing “Cabinet confidentiality’’.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the plan to audit the phones was of concern.

“It’s no wonder Victoria isn’t heading in the right direction if this is the Premier’s priority,’’ Mr Guy said.

“With Victorians worried about jobs, congestion and a law and order crisis, it beggars belief that Daniel Andrews ignores these issues and instead focuses on going through his own ministers’ text messages.’’

Rebecca Thistleton, speaking on behalf of the government, would only say: “In line with normal practice, we don’t comment on Cabinet or security matters.”

Mr Watts is now appealing to ministers and bureaucrats to come forward to provide any information on the probe.

The privacy commissioner has also served notices on the chairman and the chief executive of KPMG seeking “details of communications regarding the audit, including engagement terms and the scope of the audit’’.

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