[LINK] ABS Tries to Blame IBM for 2016 Census Problems

[David Lochrin]

I suppose we'll never find out the whole story, but we could have expected a vigorous search for a scapegoat after a thoroughly embarrassing, very public, and perhaps career-limiting event.  IMHO it would not have been so embarrassing had the ABS not appeared rather cocky in its response to public concerns about privacy leading up to census day.  (I'd have loved to be a fly on the wall during the 'phone call with the PM on 10th August. :-)

Everyone here knows no network defence is 100% guaranteed, that's just one of the compromises involved in doing stuff on the internet.  I believe the DSD is a thoroughly professional and highly competent organisation, and I don't know what else could reasonably have been done given they were involved in the project.  I notice the report doesn't get beyond generalising about failure of geo-blocking, and it would be interesting to know the detail.

C'est la vie...

David L.