Fed: Centrelink to boost security after mail out glitch

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-2000
Fed: Centrelink to boost security after mail out glitch

Centrelink will tighten security after the personal and confidential identification
numbers of about 800,000 welfare recipients were mistakenly printed on the outside of
envelopes during a recent mail-out.

Chief information officer JANE TREADWELL says Centrelink regrets the mistake and acknowledges
it is a breach of privacy.

The incident occurred during a mail-out of a disability magazine.

Centrelink national information protection manager LUKE WOOLMER says the agency is
considering issuing new ID numbers although it is confident the risk to customers was
small.

He says anyone trying to access or change customer details has to provide their address
and date of birth and correctly answer a wildcard question as well as citing the number.

AAP RTV kmh/alt/nf/et

KEYWORD: PRIVACY (CANBERRA)

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