Senator Jacqui Lambie has unleashed on the Veterans Affairs minister for being “missing in action” over studies veterans’ knowledge was handed to a college with out their consent.
The Department of Veterans Affairs routinely transferred the medical knowledge of veterans to the University of South Australia for analysis functions over twenty years, as first reported by The Saturday Paper.
The information have been transferred to the Medicines Advice and Therapeutics Education Services (MATES) program, which goals to enhance using medicines and associated well being providers within the veteran group.
Senator Lambie mentioned the studies left her feeling “sick in the guts” and known as for Matt Keogh to entrance the media and provides an in depth clarification.
“Where is (Mr) Keogh, the coward? You come out and tell us what’s happened with our documents, you coward,” the senator, and armed forces veteran mentioned.
“He has gone missing in action. They know what’s going on in DVA and I want some answers.”
In a letter to Senator Lambie despatched on Thursday night, the minister acknowledged and apologised for “any trauma that this issue has caused you and others in our veteran community”.
He mentioned veteran participation in this system was carried out by an opt-out system.
Earlier this yr the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner dominated DVA had “interfered” with the complainant’s privateness and breached two key parts of the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
It awarded the complainant $5000 in compensation, six years after they first made the criticism.
In an announcement, a spokesman for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs mentioned there had “not been a breach of (veterans’) data, and there is no systemic data security issue”.
“The recent determination by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) does not relate to, or indicate any data or security issues with the MATES program,” they mentioned.
“The OAIC determination relates to an individual case in 2017 whereby an individual opted out of participation in the program and DVA did not fully implement this request. DVA has unequivocally apologised for this.”
But Senator Lambie, who served within the military for 11 years, remained involved her personal non-public well being knowledge had been shared with out her specific consent.
“They would have my documents. I gave them no permission to have a look at my documents. Who else in the DVA, what other ministers in the past have been through my documents?” she mentioned.
She mentioned since talking out in regards to the studies per week in the past she had acquired dozens of calls from involved veterans.
“They are absolutely ropeable. All those veterans, can imagine, you know, saying oh my god, what the hell?” she mentioned.
A privateness audit was accomplished by the division in 2022. Last week, the division Secretary requested a overview to make sure all requests to decide out of this system had been actioned appropriately.
“Veterans have always had the ability to opt out of the program. However, in response to the OAIC determination, DVA has taken steps to more prominently communicate this, so veterans can make an informed decision about their participation,” the spokesman mentioned.
The division mentioned it has “no plan” to stop the operation of this system.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
