Melbourne Cup corruption agency demands metadata access

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news Victoria’s Attorney-General Martin Pakula has written to Federal Attorney-General George Brandis requesting that the state’s Racing Integrity Commissioner — which oversees the Melbourne Cup and other races — be given access to Australians’ telecommunications metadata.

The Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Bill 2015 passed the Federal Parliament in March this year. For the first time, it forces Australian telcos and Internet service providers to retain comprehensive records on their customers’ Internet and telephone habits for a period of two years.

Even for major telcos such as Telstra, which were already retaining large amounts of data about their customers, the scheme significantly expands the amount and type of data which will be held compared to the telcos’ previous records.

However, the bill also limits the types of government departments and agencies which are able to access metadata under the scheme. A number of agencies less concerned with serious crime are now no longer to access telecommunications data without warrants, unless the Attorney-General of the day approves their application.

This morning Victorian Attorney-General Martin Pakula revealed that he wrote this week to his Federal counterpart, George Brandis, requesting that the Victorian Racing Integrity Commissioner be added back to the data retention access list. The letter was first highlighted by Crikey journalist Josh Taylor on Twitter.

“I am writing to seek your support on a matter that is vital to the ongoing efforts of the Victorian Government to ensure that our racing industry is free from corruption and that our regulators have the tools necessary to ensure effective regulation of the industry,” Pakula wrote, in the letter posted on his Twitter account.

“I have been advised by Victoria’s Racing Integrity Commissioner Sal Perna that since 13 October 2015, his authorisation to access telecommunications data has been suspended.”

Pakula attached a submission made by Perna to Brandis on 19 June this year asking for the access to be reinstated, and noted that he wished to lend his support to Perna’s request.

“The Office of the Racing Integrity Commissioner has been established for the purpose of monitoring integrity in the Victorian racing industry and investigating integrity-related matters that have the potential to undermine public confidence in the industry,” wrote Pakula.

“I can confirm that his previous access to historical telecommunications data has been critical in the effective conduct of his functions under the Racing Act 1958 (Vic) and I would respectfully request that you give urgent consideration to reinstating access as was authorised prior to 13 October 2015.”

opinion/analysis
As far as I know, there is absolutely no reason why the Victorian Racing Integrity Commissioner cannot access telecommunications data under the current system, by getting a warrant. In my opinion, this is the appropriate way for a minor agency which is not concerned with serious crime or national security to access this kind of telecommunications data.

Unwarranted access to telecommunications data should only be allowed for serious crime investigations by major agencies. I fail to see how policing Victoria’s racing industry needs this access … and if there is serious crime involved, the Victorian Racing Integrity Commissioner can, again, get a warrant to access that data.

Or, if that proves too hard, it can work with the Victorian Police force, which already has unwarranted access to telecommunications metadata.

If Brandis does give in to this kind of request, he will open the door for every tiny law enforcement agency around Australia to access the vast metadata archives which Australia’s telcos are holding on Australians. The requests will be endless. He must hold firm to the intentions of the recently passed legislation and ensure that the gates are not flung open for this kind of frivolous request.

Image credit: Andrew Jabs

7 COMMENTS

  1. The fact that the Victorian Attorney-General thinks this is proportionate and necessary is very concerning. There seems to be an utter disconnect between enforcement and balancing the rights of people to privacy. Do they not realise they are fundamentally undermining the very rights and way of life they are purporting to protect in the first place? It’s like flattening cities with nuclear bombs to protect the country from nuclear warfare…

  2. It is still being implemented the AG still doesn’t know what is needed to be kept and scope creep is already kicking in.

  3. Scope? meet Creep.

    It’s fine; if you aren’t guilty, you have nothing to hide. Right? Who needs the legal system.

    Oh that’s right, the very people who would then use the same legal system they want to sidestep, to charge people.

    Get a warrant? To much hassle. Seek to charge someone? Suddenly not a hassle! Surprise!

  4. Besides which, I already know who is going to {win|profit from} every single race.

    Clue: Accountant in company of fast animals.

    Gordon.

  5. So they are targeting every day Australian citizens – concerned community members who do not find Jumps racing ethical or sustainable, – the general public do not want to see horses being injured or dying. – full stop .

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