- Government says new legislation will secure Western Australians' personal information
- Appointment of Information Commissioner, Privacy Deputy Commissioner and continuation of the Freedom of Information Commissioner as Information Access Deputy Commissioner to safeguard privacy of individuals
- Introduction of breach scheme to ensure public is kept informed of any incidents
The Cook Government has passed new laws to ensure the strong protection and safe handling of Western Australians' personal information held by Government.
The Privacy and Responsible Information Sharing Bill 2024 (PRIS Bill) will modernise and strengthen privacy protections for Western Australians. It will also enable the safe and secure sharing of information across Government and with trusted external entities.
The PRIS Bill introduces new privacy principles to guide WA's public sector agencies on approved systems and processes to handle personal information.
The legislation provides assurance to Western Australians that the Cook Government is managing their personal information responsibly and securely.
This PRIS Bill includes a scheme for mandatory reporting of "notifiable information breaches" to the Information Commissioner and affected individuals to ensure Western Australians are kept well informed of any serious breaches involving their personal information.
In addition, the Cook Government has passed the Information Commissioner Bill 2024 (IC Bill), which establishes and makes provision for the offices of Information Commissioner, Information Access Deputy Commissioner and Privacy Deputy Commissioner. The new Information Commissioner and Privacy Deputy Commissioner will be equipped with robust powers to consider and resolve privacy complaints.
A Chief Data Officer will be established to lead and develop public sector capability for responsible information sharing. The Chief Data Officer will promote a culture of transparency, accountability and safe use of Government information.
For more information about the Bill, visit wa.gov.au/government/privacy-and-responsible-information-sharing
As stated by Attorney General John Quigley:
"Introducing strong and modern privacy protections for individuals is more important today than ever before.
"Western Australians should be able to say that their State Government values and respects their privacy as much as they do.
"These reforms will provide assurance to Western Australians that the Government is managing their personal information responsibly and securely by adopting time-tested privacy principles from privacy laws around Australia."
As stated by Innovation and the Digital Economy Minister Stephen Dawson:
"These new laws are an important legislative step to ensure Western Australians' personal information is protected.
"As the primary custodians of key data sets which has been provided by the community, it's our responsibility to ensure they are used to make better decisions, deliver seamless public services and drive innovation for public benefit.
"The successful passing of the Privacy and Responsible Information Sharing legislation is a major win by the Cook Government in building WA's digital future in a safe and responsible manner with a framework of accountability."
