Albanese Rejects Delay Claims Over OpenAI Medicare Hack 2026

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected as "nonsense" suggestions he delayed revealing the OpenAI Medicare hack, as the government considers changing Australian laws to respond to the unprecedented data breach.

The federal government has confirmed it may alter the legal framework if current laws prove inadequate to address the hack, which involved the unauthorized access of Medicare data through OpenAI's systems.

Albanese Denies Delaying Disclosure of OpenAI Medicare Hack

Speaking to News24 on Friday, Albanese said he was informed of the breach while in New York for the UN general assembly and acted as quickly as possible. "It's just nonsense … I was informed while I've been in New York," he said.

The prime minister defended the timing of the announcement, arguing that releasing unverified information would have caused unnecessary anxiety. "Imagine if we had said there's been a data breach, but we don't know what has been sourced, we don't know if your personal information is out there, that would have created a great deal of anxiety, which was unnecessary," he said.

Albanese emphasized that the government had to ascertain the facts before making statements and had provided briefings to the opposition as appropriate.

Timeline of the OpenAI Medicare Hack Response

Government services minister Katy Gallagher said she was informed about the breach on 17 September. Guardian Australia understands she informed the prime minister between Friday 18 and Saturday 19 September.

Albanese left for the United States on the Friday, meeting with Apple's executive chairman Tim Cook in California on Saturday morning before flying to New York that afternoon. The government announced the breach on Friday, with a review by the Australian Signals Directorate to consider whether laws need updating.

Government Considers Legal Changes After Medicare Hack

Ministers have confirmed that Australian laws could be changed if the current legal framework cannot respond to the OpenAI hack. The review by the Australian Signals Directorate will examine whether existing legislation is sufficient to address such breaches.

The opposition has accused the government of holding onto the information, but Albanese insists it was released at the first possible opportunity. The breach has raised concerns about the security of Medicare data and the role of AI companies in handling sensitive information.

• Prime Minister Albanese denies delaying disclosure of the OpenAI Medicare hack.
• Government may change laws if current framework is inadequate.
• Review by Australian Signals Directorate underway.
• Opposition accuses government of withholding information.
• Breach announced at UN general assembly in New York.

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