The Minister for Communications, Senator Mitch Fifield, says he was advised by National Broadband Network management that leaks of sensitive information had been referred to the Australian Federal Police.
Fifield says he “did not instruct nor request them to do so”.
Text of statement from the Minister for Communications, Senator Mitch Fifield.
Last year there were leaks of commercially sensitive information from NBN.
The senior management of NBN initiated an internal review, which identified matters of concern.
The NBN senior management subsequently referred these matters to the AFP.
I was advised by NBN that the matter had been referred to the AFP.
The referral to the AFP was made by the NBN senior management. I did not instruct nor request them to do so.
It was quite properly a matter for NBN.
As an AFP investigation was underway, I did not advise other Ministers or the Prime Minister of this matter.
I have had no interaction with the AFP during their investigation. Nor did I have any knowledge of, nor involvement in, matters that occurred this week, as was confirmed by the AFP Commissioner yesterday.
