Call for investigation into database misuse

By John Van Klaveren
A COUNCILLOR has asked City Hall to seek urgent legal advice on alleged misuse of a Committee for Geelong database in the city’s mayoral election.
Cr Barbara Abley also flagged a notice of motion for council’s next meeting requesting the City resign from Committee for Geelong immediately.
Cr Abley said the database misuse could constitute a breach of the Privacy Act.
Committee for Geelong executive director Peter Dorling gave the database to mayoral candidate Bernadette Uzelac to send invitations for a fundraising dinner.
Cr Abley said the sharing of the information also compromised council’s database.
Her formal request to City chief executive officer Stephen Griffin and all councillors called for an investigation of available remedies.
Cr Abley said the mayoral election process had become “farcical”.
“Nothing surprises me any more. This flurry of (uncovered) activities is only the tip of the iceberg in the lead-up to next month’s local government elections.
“The title of democratically elected mayor must be the most misleading of all statements of this century. Democratic it isn’t.
“It has now become farcical to the point that good candidates won’t want a bar of it.”
Committee for Geelong chair Michael Betts said he regarded the issue as “a very serious breach of the privacy of members”.
Mr Betts said after learning of the breach he immediately sought an undertaking from Ms Uzelac that the information would be destroyed.
“I’ve made it clear that the Committee for Geelong will not be making an error of that type again.”
Mr Betts said he was also seeking legal advice on potential Privacy Act breaches.
“Ultimately, this will be put before the board of the committee because it’s extremely serious.”
Ms Uzelac said she never asked for the list.
“It was offered to me. Most of those contacts I have on my database anyway.” Ms Uzelac said the database had been used for various purposes over the years.
“This is not a unique situation. I was merely following past practice.”
Ms Uzelac confirmed she was a Liberal party member.
“But I’m not backed by the Liberal Party. I’m a true independent in that sense.”
Ms Uzelac said she had a broad network and sent the invitation to “a lot of friends and colleagues”, asking them to forward it onto their own networks.
Liberal party Corio Electorate Conference chair Brian Hunter Evans also sent invitations to the fundraiser, using the party’s database of members.
“I don’t want to comment. I have not received any complaints from members.
“One member queried it but there is no issue on privacy regulations.”