11. Social Services—Private Client Data-sharing Requirements and AdviceCARMEL SEPULONI (Labour—Kelston) to the Minister for Social DevelopmentSocial Services—Private Client Data-sharing Requirements and Advice11. CARMEL SEPULONI (Labour—Kelston) to the Minister for Social Development: What advice did she receive from the Privacy Commissioner during the development of the private client data-sharing requirements for contracted social services?Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister for Social Development): I did not directly receive any advice from the Privacy Commissioner during the development of the proposal to collect individual client-level data. I did however receive a letter from the Privacy Commissioner on 10 March this year regarding his provisional conclusion of his inquiry into the proposal to collect individual client-level data. I had a constructive meeting with the Privacy Commissioner on 14 March to discuss this and I understand that the Office of the Privacy Commissioner has been working closely with the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) throughout the development of this proposal to ensure client's privacy rights are protected.Carmel Sepuloni: How can we trust that the Government is working collaboratively with the Privacy Commissioner" and "will listen to any recommendations that he has to make" when she ignored the recommendations of the Privacy Commissioner during the development of the Children Young Persons and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Legislation Bill?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I refute the assertions in that question.Carmel Sepuloni: Why is she still going ahead with the collection of private client data from social services when 62 percent of people felt that data should not be shared between organisations as the risks outweigh the benefits and numerous social service providers have spoken out against it as well as privacy lawyer Kathryn Dalziel and University of Canterbury Dean of Law Ursula Cheer? Is it because she thinks she is right and all of these service users and experts are wrong?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: As I have said many times before we need this information so that we can better understand what services people need and use. That means we can target our funding to those services that New Zealanders find most beneficial and that actually produce results. Collecting and sharing this information is essential if we are to ensure that people do not fall through the cracks and that we are supporting the most vulnerable in our community. MSD and now the Ministry for Vulnerable Children Oranga Tamariki spend $330 million of taxpayers' money every year providing social services in our communities. Everyone would desire that that money be spent efficiently and effectively and that is what we are attempting to do.Carmel Sepuloni: How can she and her department continue to railroad social service providers for private client data using their funding when last night she had to shut down the portal where providers submit their data because it was compromised?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I understand that the ministry was made aware that a provider's folder which did not contain any information or content was viewable by other users of the system.Carmel Sepuloni: What if it did contain content?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: No it had no content in it. As a result of that portal and in light of that technical issue I met with the chief executives of MSD and the Ministry for Vulnerable Children Oranga Tamariki this morning and insisted that we stop using that Department of Internal Affairs portal because I do not have the level of confidence required in the system. I have instructed them to go away and come up with an alternative solution. I have also asked that that alternative solution be independently assessed and I would welcome the Privacy Commissioner's involvement in that system development.Carmel Sepuloni: If the Privacy Commissioner's report that is due to be released to the public tomorrow recommends delaying or cancelling altogether the Government's plan for private client data-sharing requirements for contracted social services will she put in place his recommendations?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: The Privacy Commissioner has not even released his report so it would be most inappropriate for me to comment on it. I do not have responsibility for his report. But what I can say is that I welcome his report and I will be asking both MSD and the Ministry for Vulnerable Children Oranga Tamariki for advice on the matters that he raises. As I say I met with him recently and I look forward to working with him to address any concerns that he may have."