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Federal Government says telco isn’t cooperating with response

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The federal government has said Optus is not cooperating with its attempts to protect Australians following the company’s mass data breach, which has affected millions of current and former customers.

Government Services Minister Bill Shorten and Cyber Security Minister Clare O’Neil have this morning publicly called on the telecommunications company to я╗┐comply with the government’s requests in the interests of the affected customers.

“We urge Optus do everything it can to provide our agencies with the information they need to help,” O’Neil said.

Generic Optus image
Optus has not shared the details of affected customers with the federal government. (Eddie Jim)

“This is a security breach that should not have occurred, but what’s really important here is that we row in the same direction and do everything we can to stop financial crime against Australians.”

The government has said я╗┐it asked Optus on Tuesday, September 27 for the full details of all affected customers whose Medicare and Centrelink details were leaked.

Government agency Services Australiaя╗┐ is planning to use that information to put extra security measures on affected customer records, according to the government.

But in the five days since the government’s request, Optus has not handed the data to the government.

“Services Australia has been working around the clock to help protect customers, but we need Optus to help us help Australians,” Shorten said.

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O’Neil said the government was purely trying to help protect Australians from crime.я╗┐

“This will enable us to make sure that those 10 million Australians who have had some of their personal information stolen are not at risk of some type of financial crime or online fraud.”

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