Privacy Act Reform: signalling significant changes ahead

17 February 2023

Chantal Tipene
Partner
Sparke Helmore Lawyers

Chantal Tipene
Partner
Sparke Helmore Lawyers
t: +61 2 9260 2542

Chantal is a government law specialist with more than 10 years' experience providing specialist legal advice to the Commonwealth, State and local government. Her experience ranges from major procurement and tendering projects to advising on administrative law matters. She understands the pressures that government departments face from her recent in-house experience as the Deputy General Counsel of the NSW Police Force. In 2011, Chantal was recognised by the Law Society of New South Wales as an Accredited Specialist in Government and Administrative Law.

On 16 February 2023, Government released its report into the review of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) (click here). The report makes 116 proposals to modernise the Privacy Act, which will improve the privacy rights of individuals and clarify the privacy responsibilities of agencies and organisations. The OAIC's powers will also be further enhanced, as will the penalty regime for breaches of privacy. All agencies and organisations, including small businesses, will be affected.

Government is seeking feedback to the report by 31 March 2023 (see Government response to the Privacy Act Review Report - Attorney-General's Department - Citizen Space (ag.gov.au)).

We discuss below our top 10 issues.

Privacy infographic (2)

Stay tuned for Sparke Helmore updates on this significant reform – see our Cyber and Privacy page for more information or contact Chantal for details.