Legislative Council: Thursday, May 04, 2023

Contents

TikTok App

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:12): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Leader of the Government, who is also Minister for Public Sector, on the topic of the banning of TikTok.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: On 12 April this year the Premier announced that South Australia has banned TikTok. I note that the Premier was quoted as saying:

This is a prudent measure to protect the security of government information.

For government employees, this means we'll be requiring them to delete the app from any official devices and preventing it from being downloaded in future.

The press statement also notes that the ruling was issued under the SA Cyber Security Framework. It also allows for some members of the public sector to seek exemptions. My questions to the minister therefore are:

1. What was the assessment made by the Cyber Security Framework based on?

2. How many TikTok apps have been deleted from government devices?

3. How many exemptions have been issued or applied for?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:13): I thank the honourable member for her questions and her interest in this area, and certainly I think the honourable member's digital understanding and ability far exceeds mine. Responsibility for cybersecurity rests with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet who have a team dedicated to these efforts. I am happy to refer those on. I don't have information in relation to the questions the member has asked, but will refer those on, to the extent that information can be released.

I know that in this area there is information about cyber threats that is gained by way of briefings from federal intelligence agencies and other agencies, and it might not be that all information about the reasons for things can be released but, to the extent they can, I will pass those on to the Premier and bring back a reply.