Tudge still fudging excuses on privacy leaks

THE HON LINDA BURNEY MP SHADOW MINISTER FOR HUMAN SERVICES MEMBER FOR BARTON

TUDGE STILL FUDGING EXCUSES ON PRIVACY LEAKS

Alan Tudge’s attempts to explain his unethical leaking of personal information about Centrelink customers are inconsistent with the evidence given by his department to Senate estimates hearings just a few weeks ago.

According to Mr Tudge he was provided express written advice by the legal section of his department prior to releasing protected information about a client to the media;

“I did so on the back of the express written advice of the chief legal officer of my department”

ALAN TUDGE, SKY NEWS 14 MARCH 2017

But according to the Secretary of his department, no written advice specifically about this matter was provided, rather advice exists to justify a policy of “correcting the record”.

“... I think we would say that the legal advice per se was not provided….”

KATHRYN CAMPBELL, SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, ESTIMATES 2 MARCH 2017

If Mr Tudge did receive express written advice from his chief legal officer he must provide a copy to the public.

He must also explain why a legal officer “approved” the release of two official briefings marked “for official use only” which his own office admits were sent accidentally, twice.

While Mr Tudge desperately tries to explain the legality of his privacy leaks the community already knows they were deeply unethical.

Rather than trying to cover up his robo-debt failure by smearing ordinary Australians Mr Tudge should get to work fixing his broken system.

TUESDAY, 14 MARCH 2017

MEDIA CONTACTS: RHEUBEN FREELANDER 0422 044 390