Privacy alert - New privacy bill tabled in parliament

Almost to the one-year anniversary of providing its response to the Privacy Act Review Report (which we reported on here), the Federal Government has introduced the Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 (Cth) (Bill) into Parliament, which it has made clear is only the "first-tranche" of reforms.

If the Bill is enacted in its current form, the following key changes will be introduced:

• Transparency will be required when using personal information to make automated decisions (e.g. through the use of AI);
• A new statutory tort will be available to individuals for serious invasions of privacy (including for physical intrusions and misuse of information);
• Obligations relating to data security will be clarified, requiring organisations to take "technical and organisational measures" in respect of data protection;