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ARTICLE · 11 DECEMBER 2024

Changes to Australia's Privacy Act bolster enforcement and investigative powers

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Changes to Privacy Act expand enforcement & investigative powers & introduce new tiered penalty provisions.

AustraliaPrivacy
Michael Do Rozario
Michael Do Rozario
Frieda Chan
Frieda Chan
James North
James North
Phillip Catania
Phillip Catania
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On 29 November 2024, the Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 (Bill) passed both Houses of Parliament in what has been described as the first tranche of much-needed updates to Australia's privacy laws in the digital age.

Notably, the changes expand enforcement and investigative powers and introduce new tiered penalty provisions, which significantly increase the ability to investigate and penalise companies that mismanage personal information. These changes will come into force once the Bill receives Royal assent.

Australian Privacy Act: the road to now

Under the current Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act), the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) is empowered to, amongst other things, investigate interferences with privacy and commence civil penalty proceedings following investigations.

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