Chinese-Made EVs in the Parliamentary Vehicle Fleet

Question

1. When did the Department of Finance first begin considering the inclusion of Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles in the Commonwealth PPV fleet? 2. Please provide a copy of, or extract from, the criteria used to assess vehicles for inclusion on the Commonwealth PPV fleet list. 3. What advice, briefings or submissions were provided to the Special Minister of State before approval of the updated vehicle list? 4. Did the Department seek advice from: a. the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation; b. the Department of Home Affairs; c. the Critical Infrastructure Centre; or d. any other security or intelligence agency regarding the inclusion of Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles in the Commonwealth PPV fleet? A) If so, provide details of the advice provided by all of the above agencies. 5. Did any agency advise against the inclusion of Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles in the Parliamentarian vehicle fleet? a) If so, provide the advice. 6. Were any conditions, caveats or risk mitigation measures recommended by security agencies as part of the approval process? a) If so, what were they? 7. Has the Department conducted or commissioned any sovereign risk assessment relating to foreign-manufactured connected vehicles being used by parliamentarians? 8. Was consideration given to the possibility that parliamentarians, ministers or staff may discuss sensitive or classified matters while travelling in connected vehicles? 9. Has the Department undertaken any assessment of whether connected vehicles could be used to identify, track or analyse parliamentarians' movements, travel patterns or meetings? 10. Has the Department received advice regarding risks arising from foreign laws that may compel vehicle manufacturers to cooperate with foreign intelligence or security agencies? 11. Did the Department conduct any comparison between Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles and comparable alternatives manufactured in Japan, South Korea, Europe or the United States before recommending vehicles for inclusion? 12. Did the Department consider excluding vehicles manufactured in countries assessed as presenting elevated foreign interference or national security risks? 13. Have any Ministers or parliamentarians raised concerns with the Department regarding surveillance, privacy or cyber security risks associated with connected vehicles? 14. Please provide copies of any guidance issued to parliamentarians since 1 January 2024 regarding: a. mobile device pairing; b. Bluetooth connectivity; c. vehicle telematics; d. onboard microphones or cameras; and e. location tracking or data collection. 15. Has the Department commissioned or received any testing, assessment or analysis regarding: a. data collection; b. data storage; c. offshore transmission of data; or d. remote access capabilities associated with vehicles available under the Parliamentarian vehicle scheme? A) If so, provide details on any assessments that have been conducted. 16. Does the Department know where data collected by approved connected vehicles is stored? A) If so, where? 17. Has the Department assessed whether vehicle manufacturers can remotely access vehicle systems, software or user data? 18. Has the Department examined measures adopted by international partners, including the United States, regarding restrictions on connected vehicle technology from high-risk foreign suppliers? 19. Will the Government undertake a formal national security review of connected vehicle technology used by parliamentarians and Commonwealth agencies?

Answer

Please see the attached answer.

Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• F121.pdf (opens in a new tab)