Fergie's Tech Blog

Australia: Centrelink Search Powers Under Attack

Duh. You think?

Given the recent history of Centrelink staff misusing privacy data, I'd say this was a very, very bad idea.

Lachlan Heywood writes on news.com.au:

Centrelink officers will be given controversial police-like search and seizure powers as part of the Federal Government's crackdown on welfare fraud.

The new powers would allow Centrelink officers to obtain a warrant from a magistrate to enter and search premises.

They will also have authority to confiscate any property deemed of importance to the case.

But the proposed changes, currently being examined by the Senate's Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, has welfare groups worried.

Their main fear is that the proposed search and seize powers could be abused.

posted by Fergie @ 11/01/2006 03:07:00 PM