- Government introduces new legislation to 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
will introduce 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 and enable the safe and
secure sharing of information across Government and with trusted external
entities.
This
Australian-first legislation combines essential privacy protections and a consistent
information sharing framework into a single Bill. The information sharing capability
is built on top of robust privacy protections to deliver the right balance
between protecting personal information and the safe flow of Government
information in order to deliver significant community benefits.
The PRIS
Bill introduces new privacy principles to guide WA's public sector agencies on
approved systems and processes to handle personal information, providing
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.
Under the
legislation, Western Australians will be provided with clear and consistent
pathways on the appropriate action to take if they have concerns surrounding the
handling of their personal information by a Government agency.
In
addition, the Government will also be introducing the Information Commissioner
Bill 2024 (IC Bill) to establish and make provision for the office 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.
The new
laws introduce a best practice approach to facilitate responsible information sharing
across Government and with trusted external entities such as Western
Australia's world-class health researchers, for permitted purposes in the
public interest.
The Bill
will allow the State to work more easily and quickly with other jurisdictions
on important issues such as family and domestic violence.
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.
Extensive
consultation was undertaken with stakeholders, including community groups,
subject matter experts and the public sector to ensure the new laws are fit for
purpose.
For more
information about the Bill, visit wa.gov.au/government/privacy-and-responsible-information-sharing
Comments attributed to Innovation and the Digital Economy Minister
Stephen Dawson:
"As our digital world continues to evolve
at such a rapid pace, the Cook Government is taking important legislative steps
to ensure Western Australians' personal information is protected.
"As custodians of these valuable data
sets, we also have a responsibility to ensure they are used to make better
decisions, deliver seamless public services and drive innovation for public
benefit.
"The proposed Privacy and Responsible
Information Sharing legislation is designed to support WA's digital future and
create a framework of accountability.
"It enables modern digital government services
for our community in a safe, privacy-preserving environment.
"Solving complex social, economic and
health issues require us all to work together and share information in a safe
and secure manner."
Comments attributed to Attorney General John Quigley:
"The Cook Government is well aware that
the protection of their private information is a significant concern for
Western Australians.
"With recent high-profile breaches in
the private sector compromising sensitive information about our community, our Government
is more committed than ever to ensure that information we hold is well protected."
