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ARTICLE · 15 DECEMBER 2012

Privacy law reform - put it on your 2013 to-do list!

Holding Redlich
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Recent amendments to the Privacy Acy will change the collection, use and storage of personal information.

AustraliaPrivacy
Michael Grosser
Michael Grosser
Christie Green
Christie Green
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The collection, use and storage of personal information by Government Agencies and private sector organisations will change as a result of the passing of recent amendments to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) 1. Consequently these entities will now need to carefully consider their existing arrangements and those currently under negotiation to ensure compliance by March 2014. Non-compliance has been addressed by reforms providing increased powers to the Privacy Commissioner and civil penalties of up to $1.1 million for an offence involving 'serious or repeated interference with the privacy of an individual' by a body corporate.

Background

On 29 November 2012, the Federal Parliament passed the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Bill 2012 (Bill). The Bill amends the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and represents the Government's first stage response to 197 of 295 recommendations identified in the Australian Law Reform Commission Report (ALRC Report) No. 108 released

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