REVELATIONS this week that the State Government attempted to cover up an earlier assurance about keeping QR code contact tracing personal information private and safe have been met with sharp criticism by a local member of parliament.
In a Supreme Court case between Worksafe and the Health Department regarding release of QR contact information of guests and staff in quarantine hotels, it became clear that there could be absolute protection of contact tracing information on public interest immunity grounds which rendered it immune from disclosure, meaning these details could be collected by a third party.
Acting Premier, Jacinta Allan was under fire for having defended the government’s decision to conceal that there is a risk that Victorian’s contact tracing information could be obtained by third parties.
Western Victoria Region MP, Beverley McArthur said the government had solidified “its reputation as a government that will lie, deceive, cover up and botch contracts”.
“It is breathtaking,” Ms McArthur said.
“Again and again, this government smashes the responsibility and trust with which it is bestowed.
“This week, Victorians have it confirmed that this is a hollow and arrogant government, reckless with the truth and interested only in in self-preservation.”
She said questions about the protection of private information were first asked in Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) by Polwarth MP, Richard Riordan, however, it had taken Supreme Court action by WorkSafe to draw out the truth.
“This begs the question: what else isn’t the government telling us, why should we trust one word it says?” Ms McArthur said.
“This is a government that tells an inquiry into the deaths of 801 people that it ‘can’t recall Your Honour’ and then goes to the Supreme Court to cover up a lie for five years.
“Trust is beyond broken between the Victorians and government.
“Via its court action and the acting premier’s defence of the indefensible, the government made it clear it did not trust the Victorian public with the truth, but it is Victorians who shouldn’t trust this government.
“It is another contract, in a conga-line of contracts, that the government has botched and bungled.
“If it involves a contract and the government – expect a mess.
“Whether it is worth billions of dollars to build something with a corporation, or a contract of trust with every Victorian, then the outcome will be either a blowout, botched, or both.
“This is a callous and self-interested government that is prepared to put its image and preservation above the individual rights of its citizens.
“And worse, courtesy of the Pandemic Bill, signed off by cowering Labor MPs and four sycophantic Upper House crossbenchers, we now have a government with even more power.
“It couldn’t be trusted before, but now it has increased power with which to control Victorian lives; it cares only for itself.”
