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ARTICLE · 23 OCTOBER 2024

Update To 'Privacy Act – Reform Is On The Way'

Pointon Partners
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Bill seeks to amend the Privacy Act.

AustraliaPrivacy
Felicity Cara-Carson
Felicity Cara-Carson
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As we reported in our previous article (https://pointonpartners.com.au/privacy-act-reform-is-on-the-way/), the Federal Government released a Privacy Act Review Report ("Review") last year foreshadowing changes to privacy legislation in Australia. A response to the recommendations outlined in the Review was then released by the Federal Government following feedback and consultations. In his speech at the Privacy by Design Awards in May 2024, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus described Australia's privacy regime as "woefully outdated and unfit for the digital age".1

On 12 September 2024, the Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 ("Bill") was introduced to Parliament. The Bill seeks to amend the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and 7 other Acts, including referring to 23 of the 25 'agreed' proposals,2 a new statutory tort for serious invasions of privacy and a framework for developing a Children's Online Privacy Code.3

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