Inquiry into the Treasury’s Budget related Information Security Systems

On 11 June 2019, the State Service Commissioner Peter Hughes announced an inquiry into the Treasury’s Budget related Information Security Systems. The Commissioner appointed Mr Murray Jack to undertake the inquiry.

The objective of the Inquiry was to address concerns raised by this incident about the security of the Treasury’s Budget process, focusing on what happened, why it happened, the lessons learned, and the actions the Treasury needed to take to ensure that a similar incident would not happen again.

The inquiry was terminated on 13 November 2019 due to an undeclared conflict of interest within the inquiry team. 

A second inquiry commenced on 14 November 2019. Ms Jenn Bestwick was appointed to undertake the inquiry.

This inquiry had the same scope as the initial inquiry excluding making findings in relation to the actions of the Secretary of the Treasury in responding to the incident, which were the subject of a separate investigation by the Commissioner.

Evidence gathered by the previous inquiry could be re-used by Ms Bestwick in undertaking this inquiry. Transcripts of interviews, however, could only be considered with the consent of each interviewee.

Media release: Murray Jack to investigate how Budget-sensitive material was accessed 

Terms of reference: Inquiry into the Treasury’s Budget related Information Security Systems(PDF, 150 KB)

Media release: Investigation into statements made and actions taken by the Secretary to the Treasury

Media release: Budget investigation shut down and new inquirer appointed 

Terms of reference: Budget investigation shut down and new inquirer appointed(PDF, 686 KB)

Inquiry into the Treasury’s Budget related Information Security Systems

Media release: Inquiry findings into how Budget material was accessed

Report of the Inquiry into the Treasurys Budget Related Information Security Systems(PDF, 792 KB)

Additional information releases

Documents List, 2 March 2020 – Budget Inquiry Information Release – Treasury.govt.nz 

Documents Provided to the Inquiry into the Treasury's Budget Related Information Security Systems – Treasury.govt.nz

Investigation into actions and statements of Mr Makhlouf

Media release: Findings of investigation into statements made and actions taken by the Secretary to the Treasury 

Report: Investigation into Actions and Statements of Mr Makhlouf(PDF, 242 KB)

OIA requests

OIA response: Information on the Treasury Budget leak (May 2022)(PDF, 598 KB)

OIA response: Treasury conflict of interest (Jan 2020)(PDF, 384 KB)

OIA response: Treasury investigation conflict of interest (Dec 2019)(PDF, 1.1 MB)

OIA response: Legal advice related to the Treasury investigation (Sept 2019)(PDF, 919 KB)

OIA response: Information regarding Treasury investigation (June 2019)(PDF, 1.7 MB)