The possibility of private companies having access to people’s personal details is one Shadow Minister for Finance, Services and Property Clayton Barr is fighting to prevent.
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Mr Barr said Highlands residents were at risk of having their personal information in the hands of private companies that had been voted by the state government as ‘approved persons’ to potentially operate Service NSW centres or parts of its business if put out to tender.
“Approved persons would have access to all details,” Mr Barr said. This would include information stored at Service NSW centres such as births, deaths, marriages, drivers licences and any related health issues.
“It [tendering] might only be for a small part of service – the call centre, the ability to do online motor registrations or it might be an entire store. We just don’t know.”
His concerns were prompted by cases throughout the world where he said there had been “failures, faults, leaks and the sale of information” when private companies operated government services.
“Government operators can’t and won’t do that. Once it’s behind a closed private door, no one’s going to be held to account in the event that that happens.”
Mr Barr met with Highlands residents on Monday to discuss the amendment to the Service NSW (One-stop Access to Government Services) Regulation 2013.
While the regulation has been passed, the companies will not have access to any personal information unless the tender process is completed and a contract awarded.
Mr Barr said both Goulburn MP Pru Goward and Wollondilly MP Jai Rowell voted in favour of the amendment but Ms Goward said customers’ personal information would not be compromised.
She said any claims Service NSW was being privatised were “false and misleading”.
“Service NSW takes the privacy and management of personal information seriously and has introduced various mechanisms to protect information held or accessed by Service NSW or its authorised representatives.
“I am advised that all third party vendors need to comply with these requirements through contractual arrangements.”
Ms Goward said Service NSW had previously used external providers at the contact centre and changes to the regulation would allow for more than one provider to assist.
Mr Rowell has been contacted for comment.