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ARTICLE · 06 NOVEMBER 2023

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Potential changes to privacy rights and impact on health practices

Avant Law
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Health practices should review data collection, storage, and usage to ensure they are compliant with these changes.

AustraliaPrivacy
Justin Fung
Justin Fung
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Key takeaways

  • Familiarise yourself with the recommendations released in the Privacy Act Review Report ("Report") and the substantial changes proposed in relation to Individual Privacy Rights.
  • Review your current data collection, storage, usage and record-keeping systems (including all relevant processes, policies, procedures and consents) to identify whether these systems provide scope to quickly adopt the recommendations, should they be passed.
  • If there are any concerns with your current systems, take steps to promptly address these concerns.

Overview of recommendations

The Report, which was released in February 2023, recommends substantial changes to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) ("Act"). The recommendations, if adopted, would grant several rights to individuals whose data has been collected or is held by an entity to which the Australian Privacy Principles ("APP") apply ("APP Entities").

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