Medibank and Optus Breaches Secret Review to Remain Secret

A secret review commissioned by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the aftermath of the widespread Optus and Medibank data breaches is just one of “many” reviews not publicly announced.

Former high-ranking bureaucrat Mike Mrdak was in October tasked with examining the government’s response to the attacks, however the existence of the review was only made public following media reporting over the weekend.

Liberal senator Simon Birmingham used the Finance and Public Administration senate estimates on Monday to question why the probe was kept secret, noting how many people had been caught up in the attacks.

Bureaucrats from the department of Prime Minister and Cabinet said “many reviews” weren’t publicly announced.

Deputy secretary of national security and international policy Katrina Cooper said: “It’s normal business to announce regular reviews. It’s really common practice to review what has happened and to do lessons learned exercises.”

Senator Birmingham asked for the report to be tabled, but was told that would be unlikely.

“The report is intended for the Prime Minister; it will be for the discussion of government, so we may not be able to table it,” Ms Cooper said.

The report has been shared with other agencies.

- CyberBeat