Photo: Get your head out of the sand and don't disregard or deny the real issues.

WikiLeaks, move over. You can leave it to fumbling DIBP and MARA officers to mess with sensitive data just to have taxpayers funds diverted to the consequent damage control and investigations.

DIBP Minister Scott Morrison has put out a news release that private information of detainees were published on the DIBP website recently.

The Minister states, “This is an unacceptable incident.”

No doubt it is also an incident that is embarrassing, troubling and leaving many begging answers to these questions (and probably more):

Have the public service officers become so disconnected from the sensitivity of the issues and the information they are dealing with or do they just not care enough for the rights of the people they are there to serve? If you can’t get basic document management right, what else are you getting wrong in the ivory tower? 

MARA, DIBPS watchdog for RMAs, has also recently come under the spotlight for poor records management. This time with RMAs CPD records which is central to RMAs registration renewal and hence livelihood. At least the Minister has admitted the problem, asked questions and reportedly taking action so it does not reoccur.

We have yet to hear from MARA.

With incidents like this it’s time questions are asked about internal accountability and performance management of public servants. Perhaps that is the root of the problem. New Websites and new technologies can get all too much to keep up with, but it really may be the attitude that needs tweaking.