Victorian opposition call for new law to stop police accessing contact tracing data

Victoria Police’s attempts to get private contact tracing data came under the microscope during a fiery exchange in state parliament.

Victoria Police’s three requests for private QR code contact tracing data were placed under the microscope during a fiery question time in state parliament on Wednesday.

Opposition spokesman for police David Southwick said the attempts “undermined public confidence” in the security of the contact tracing process and questioned why there was no legislation to stop agencies from accessing the data.

Acting Police Minister Danny Pearson blasted the claim as a “conspiracy theory”, but went on to confirm there had been three incidents since December last year where “informal requests have been made from Victoria Police about could they access it”.

“The answer has been no,” he told the Victorian parliament on Wednesday afternoon.

“There are appropriate mechanisms in place where I believe where if (Victoria Police) could prevent a crime occurring such as a terrorist incident or if they could solve a crime and they felt that Service Victoria data could assist, then the appropriate mechanism would be through the courts via a warrant.

“But there has been no formal request made.”

Acting Minister police Danny Pearson says Victoria Police must go through the courts and get a warrant if they want to access QR code data. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

More than 190,000 Victorian businesses were enforcing use of the government’s Service Victoria check-in app, which will be mandatory at all shops and hospitality venues from July 1.

From Monday to Sunday last week, there were 29 million check-ins on the Service Victoria app, compared with 21 million the week before.

Businesses that fail to comply with QR codes risk being shut down.

More than 190,000 Victorian businesses were enforcing use of the government’s Service Victoria check-in app, which will be mandatory from July 1. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

Mr Southwick quoted an interview Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt gave on radio on Wednesday morning: “Given the minuscule – if any policing benefit – that would be derived from using that data we really don’t think it’s in the public interest of that data to be used for anything other than its original purpose.”

Mr Southwick then asked: “Given the Police Association doesn't support contact tracing data used for any other purposes will the Minister act to close the loophole to protect people’s data?”

In reply, Mr Pearson accused the opposition of “undermining Victoria Police”.

After a brief uproar Mr Pearson then said he would support Victoria Police if they needed to access the data via a warrant.

“The reality is the courts are best placed to assess any warrant that Victoria Police wanted to make in relation to this matter and I will back the judicial system and I’ll back Victoria Police every step of the way.”

Originally published as Victorian opposition call for new law to stop police accessing contact tracing data