TREASURY minister Charles Parkinson has backed his information technology staff after criticisms of poor security on the States election website.

The vulnerability resulted in personal details of online registrants for the electoral roll becoming accessible along with the banking and medical details of Maison Maritaine care-home residents from 1986 to 2004.

As a result, one of the six recommendations included in data protection commissioner Dr Peter Harris’ independent investigation into the breach concerns future major site developments and upgrades. Dr Harris said that as part of the risk assessment of such a project, the technologies involved, staff training and department expertise should be assessed and documented.

‘Essentially Dr Harris is saying that in this instance the technical expertise of ITU fell short of what was required and we accept that there were failings here,’ said Deputy Parkinson (pictured).