Thursday, 9 March 2023

Health services cybersecurity

Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (12:21): (78) My question is for the minister representing the Minister for Health. In reference to this morning’s Eastern Health announcement of an IT system outage and ensuing code yellow, even with no current evidence of a cyber attack this highlights the undeniable fact that digital systems are vulnerable, which can have serious consequences for the provision of critical services and data management. Will the government acknowledge this threat and take proactive steps to address it, including investing in robust cybersecurity measures and contingency plans to ensure that essential services are not disrupted in the event of a cyber attack or system failure?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers, Minister for Child Protection and Family Services) (12:22): Thank you, Mrs Tyrrell, for the question. It is obviously a question for the Minister for Health, so in accordance with the standing orders, I will pass that on to her and ensure that she replies in accordance with the standing orders.

Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (12:22): One more question: what steps are being taken?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers, Minister for Child Protection and Family Services) (12:22): Thank you, Mrs Tyrrell, for the question, obviously again for the Minister for Health, so I will pass that aspect of the question on to her as well and ensure that you receive a reply within the standing orders.