Big Trade In Private Records, Icac Hears
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday January 17, 1991
There appears to be widespread exchange of confidential information between government departments and the private sector, according to further evidence given to the Independent Commission Against Corruption yesterday.
Ms Wendy Wilson told the commission that when she was employed by the State Government Credit Union and previously Natwest as a credit controller, she had exchanged confidential Credit Reference Association information for unauthorised information from the Department of Social Security.
The information about social security recipients, which she acquired from her contacts at the department, Mr David Martin and two other men, she then sold to Walsh Mercantile, a debt collection agency.
The commission heard that for two years until June last year, Walsh Mercantile paid her about $2,500 for this information.
Ms Wilson, of South Wentworthville, told the commission that she had also obtained information from other government organisations including county councils, Telecom and the Roads and Traffic Authority.
Mr Frank Fodor, a mercantile agent with Executive Credit Services, said he had paid a private investigator to get information from the RTA, Telecom, Department of Social Security and the Housing Commission.
Mr Fodor also said he was able to obtain through a Mr Hooker, account details, including the name, address and balance of ANZ Bank account holders.
Another contact from Boston Collection Services could get addresses of account holders from Westpac if he gave him the account number, Mr Fodor told the commission.
Mr Fodor admitted that he was aware that the information for which he paid Mr Hooker was "information I shouldn't have".
On Tuesday the commission heard evidence that a Prospect Electricity employee obtained hundreds of social security checks which he passed on to real estate agents, home owners, and a private investigator.
He also told the commission that other colleagues could obtain information from Australia Post and Telecom.
Several police officers and RTA employees have also admitted to the commission that they sold confidential information to private investigators.
Mr Fodor suggested yesterday that in order for companies to recover bad debts using proper channels there should be a government body set up to permit the legal disclosure of such information.
He said that when proper requests were put through the RTA, the debtor could be notified and thus avoid receiving a summons.
The commission is inquiring into the conduct of public officials, including RTA employees and police officers who gave official information, sometimes for payment.
The conduct of the people who received the information is also being examined.
The hearing continues today.
© 1991 Sydney Morning Herald