Journo hacking issue was dealt with:Morrow

The former head of Vodafone Hutchison Australia, Bill Morrow, doesn't recall the specific details of a case involving the hacking of a journalist's phone.

Vodafone (File: AAP)

Vodafone (File: AAP) Source: Press Association

The head of the national broadband network doesn't recall the exact details of allegations the telco he previously managed hacked the phone of a journalist.

Bill Morrow appeared before a Senate committee on Monday and was quizzed about an admission by Vodafone Hutchison Australia that an employee illegally accessed the mobile phone records of Fairfax Media journalist Natalie O'Brien in 2011.

Asked repeatedly by Labor senator Stephen Conroy if he had reported the incident to police, Mr Morrow insisted the company took the proper steps and adequately dealt with the issue.

"I reported nothing to the police, senator, because I was not aware of any of the details," said Mr Morrow, who took over the telco in March 2012.

"It was appropriately dealt with."

Mr Morrow told the committee it should speak to Vodafone for further details.

Mr Morrow agreed it was "shocking" that a journalist's phone had been hacked.

"If there was any criminal activity that I was aware of I would have made sure that it was appropriately dealt with," he said.

Mr Morrow said Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull was not told about the incident prior to his appointment as NBN boss.

Mr Morrow later said he did not condone fraudulent activity.

"I think it is appalling for any of us to have our privacy breached," he told the committee.

It was a rogue case involving an employee who had been "properly dealt with".


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world