Potentially compromising details about the private lives of public servants and political staffers will be shared with their bosses in a renewed bid to guard against insider threats to the government.

The Department of Defence is working with the Attorney-General's Department on plans to pass on potential risks relating to security clearance holders.

Labor MP Julian Hill, who sat on the joint committee of Public Accounts and Audit that handed down its report in April, said he was concerned about sensitive information relating to high-level government officials being passed on to their workplace. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The details – which are identified during the security vetting process – could include sexual history, finances, drug use, overseas travel and acquaintances. They will be passed on to ministerial offices and government departments "where applicable".

The Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) has also quietly slashed the number of private contractors it uses for vetting government officials from 22 to six. The foreign ownership and control of vetting entities will also be more tightly assessed under the changes.