Veterans sue government over 'mass and routine' medical data sharing
A new class action will allege the federal government breach privacy laws by sharing thousands of ex-ADF members' medical records to an Australian university.
A group of veterans has filed a class action lawsuit against the federal government, alleging that their medical records were unlawfully shared with an Australian university. The MATES healthcare program, which operated from 2004 to 2024, accessed thousands of veterans' medical data, including their names, addresses, medical conditions, and treatments.
The program, administered by the University of South Australia, was shut down after an ethics review. Gordon Legal, representing the plaintiffs, claims that most veterans were unaware of the program and did not provide consent for the sharing of their personal information. The lawsuit seeks damages for breach of confidence and aims to protect the privacy of vulnerable individuals with complex medical histories. The Department of Veterans Affairs declined to comment on the legal proceedings.
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