Western Power has reported the loss or theft of more than $1 million worth of computers over two and a half years, raising concerns about the security of taxpayer-funded equipment. From July 2023 to December 2024, 563 computers, laptops, and tablets were lost or stolen, equivalent to one for every five employees.
The losses include 198 mobile phones, costing taxpayers $143,000. In comparison, WA Health, which employs 50,000 staff—16 times larger than Western Power—lost or had stolen only 90 computers and 63 phones in the same period.
Shadow Energy Minister Steve Thomas criticized the agency, stating, “If this is the standard at which we’re operating it’s a wonder the government gets by at all.” He questioned what sensitive information might be on the lost devices and suggested Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson should answer for the losses.
Thomas also speculated that the missing laptops could contain evidence of failures in the government’s energy transition, implying they might have been intentionally lost. Western Power stated that lost laptops represent about 2% of its inventory and that it continues to review controls to minimize loss.
