Cyber criminals have released around 16,000 documents containing personal financial information stolen from a third party transfer service used by Tasmanian government agencies.

Technology minister Madeleine Ogilvie last Friday confirmed the release of the files stolen from the Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP).

“At this point in time, our advice is there are approximately 16,000 documents that have been released,” she said in a statement.

“The information released includes financial invoices and statements including information relating to student assistance applications, and may include names and addresses.”

DECYP said in statement before Easter that the data related to current and historical financial information held by agencies including the Teachers Registration Board, Office of the Education Registrar, Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification (TASC), Commissioner for Children and Young People, Government Education and Training International, Libraries Tasmania and TasTAFE.

It included names, addresses, school names, names of children, home rooms, year group, dates of birth, reference numbers and bank account details.

The government first announced on March 31 that it was investigating a data breach involving the file transfer servce GoAnywhere MFT, which Ms Ogilvie said contained a software vulnerability that had possibly been exploited globally.

The Tasmanian Government is working with State and Federal authorities, including the Australian Cyber Security Centre, following the incident.

“The incident management team is continuing its work in responding to this cyber crime and the State’s emergency management arrangements have been activated to strengthen the State response to the incident,” Ms Ogilvie said.

The government has also engaged cyber security specialist Cyber CX to assist with investigations.

DECYP has apologised for the breach.

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