The Veteran MATES (Medicines Advice and Therapeutics Education Services) program, launched in January 2004, aimed to improve medication safety for veterans. However, recent revelations of significant privacy breaches have raised concerns, leading to legal actions and the eventual closure of the program.
Timeline of Key Events
– January 2004: The Veteran MATES program was launched by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).
– 26 April 2023: Following a veteran’s complaint, the Privacy Commissioner found that DVA had interfered with their privacy and awarded $5,000 in compensation to the veteran.
– 29 July 2023: The Saturday Paper revealed that DVA had been providing identified and complete medical records of approximately 300,000 individuals to the University of South Australia.
– 10 August 2023: In a letter to Senator Jacqui Lambie, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh confirmed that personal information had been shared with the University of South Australia since 2004.
– 18 December 2023: Gordon Legal filed a representative complaint with the Privacy Commissioner on behalf of all affected individuals.
– 5 February 2024: DVA’s Human Research Ethics Committee withdrew its ethics approval for the MATES Program.
– 12 February 2024: DVA announced the permanent closure of the MATES Program.
The Privacy Breach and Its Impact
The revelations highlight a serious breach of trust and privacy for approximately 300,000 individuals whose personal medical records were shared without proper consent. The breach, which persisted for nearly two decades, has exposed systemic issues in how veterans’ sensitive information was handled.
In response to a veteran’s complaint, the Privacy Commissioner ruled in April 2023 that DVA had interfered with their privacy and awarded $5,000 in compensation to the affected individual. This marks the first compensation granted due to the breach, but many other veterans are expected to be affected.
The Privacy Commissioner’s ruling was a catalyst, sparking further scrutiny and prompting legal action. The filing of a representative complaint by Gordon Legal on behalf of affected veterans underscores the widespread impact and the need for accountability.
Class Action Investigation
No class action has been lodged yet; however, a potential class action is under investigation. On 18 December 2023, Gordon Legal lodged a representative complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), and they are currently awaiting an outcome.
Am I Eligible?
Anyone who has been a veteran and held a health care card issued by DVA (or its predecessor) at any time since 1 January 2004 is eligible to register. If you meet these criteria, you may be impacted by this breach and have the right to seek compensation or support.
What Happens Next?
The closure of the MATES Program and the ongoing legal proceedings aim to address the breach and provide redress to those affected. The class action investigation highlights the importance of privacy protections and ethical standards in managing veterans’ data.
Disclaimer: KSC Claims is not affiliated with Gordon Legal or their Veterans Privacy Class Action. For more information about the class action, please refer to Gordon Legal’s official website here.
