Senator Faulkner asked the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, upon notice, on 25 July 2001:

(1) Have there been any laptop computers lost or stolen from the possession of any officer of the department and/or any agencies within the portfolio during the 2000-01 financial year; if so: (a) how many have been lost; (b) how many have been stolen; (c) what is the total value of these computers; (d) what is the average replacement value per computer; and (e) have these computers been recovered or replaced.

(2) Have the police been requested to investigate any of these incidents; if so: (a) how many were the subject of police investigation; (b) how many police investigations have been concluded; (c) in how many cases has legal action been commenced; and (d) in how many cases has action been concluded and with what result.

(3) How many of the lost or stolen computers had, departmental documents, content or information other than operating software on their hard disc drives, floppy disc, CD Rom or any other storage device.

(4) How many of the documents etc. referred to in (3) were classified for security or any other purpose and, if any, what was the security classification involved.

(5) (a) How many of the documents etc. referred to in (3) have been recovered; and (b) how many documents etc. referred to in (4) have been recovered.

(6) What departmental disciplinary or other actions have been taken in regard to the computers in (1) or in relation to the documents etc. referred to in (3) and (4).

Senator Hill (Minister for the Environment and Heritage) —The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

The details provided relate to laptop computers only.

(1) Yes

(a) One from the Bureau of Meteorology, lost from the baggage compartment on a plane flight

(b) Fifteen were stolen under the following circumstances:

Unlawful entry into offices 7

Theft from hotel room during overseas visit 1

Forced entry into offices 3

Theft from a vehicle 1

Theft from homes 3

Details of circumstances follow:

Environment Australia: Two laptops were stolen from an equipment store in Departmental premises.

Bureau of Meteorology: Three laptops were stolen following a break-in at the SA Regional Office, one laptop was stolen from a vehicle in SA, one laptop was stolen from a cooperative observer's home in Tasmania, one laptop was stolen from the Radar Workshop in Collingwood, one laptop was stolen from the National Climate Centre prior to a new access system being implemented and two laptops were stolen from homes occupied by staff members.

Antarctic Division: One laptop was stolen from a hotel room during an overseas visit and three were stolen from the Glaciology Section located in a University of Tasmania building.

(c) Total value $70,729

(d) $5,830

(e) No computers have been recovered. Thirteen computers have been replaced.

(2) Yes

(a) Three of the Antarctic Division's incidents were attended by Tasmanian police and one by Dutch police; police attended eight of the nine Bureau of Meteorology incidents;

(b) All incidents have been concluded to the point of being filed pending further information;

(c) No legal action has been taken on any incident;

(d) All incidents remain open pending further information.

(3) Each computer stolen had documentation relative to the area to which it was assigned.

(4) One computer contained national (restricted) and non-national classified information (protected) but was protected by security software.

(5) (a) and (b) No documents have been recovered. Some documents were recreated from backup storage.

(6) All departmental officers have been instructed to lock laptop computers away at the close of business each day. Security patrols are required to report any lapses of this policy. In regard to the Bureau of Meteorology, officers have been reminded of the need to securely store laptops and to remain vigilant. Advice on the responsibilities in respect of public property has also been notified to staff across Australia. A further notice outlining responsibilities for public property stowed in vehicles and while staff are on duty away from the office, particularly operational field trips, will be issued. Environment Australia and the Antarctic Division will also look at providing further guidance to staff on their responsibilities for protecting public property. One officer was required to contribute to the replacement value. Qantas insurance paid for one laptop lost in transit.