A Government minister accused an opposition senator of “grandstanding” yesterday.

The comments, made by Owen Darrell, came after Douglas De Couto, the Shadow Minister of Finance, asked whether a ransom had been paid in connection with the September 20 cyberattack.

Dr De Couto posed the same question to junior finance minister Arianna Hodgson on Tuesday, but did not receive an answer.

Mr Darrell said the Government had been “very transparent in answering this question” many times.

He added: “Quite frankly, this has been another exercise of grandstanding.”

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport told senators that the cyberattack was under investigation and will be addressed through a joint select committee, which has not yet been formed.

Robin Tucker, the Opposition Leader in the Senate, asked the minister when the last training session was held for the government’s information and digital technology staff before the cyberattack.

Mr Darrell said the Government could not answer the question “due to security concerns”.