A new survey has found a majority of Australians are against the government and companies collecting and using their personal data.
Camera IconA new survey has found a majority of Australians are against the government and companies collecting and using their personal data. Credit: Supplied/Getty Images/Cultura RF

Government flags new ‘data safeguard laws’

AAPWestern Suburbs Weekly

THE personal information of Australians could be shared across all government agencies and used in scientific research, under proposed law changes to rework safeguards.

Government Services Minister Stuart Robert said there are more than 500 privacy provisions built into current laws, but many were outdated.

The result, he said, was a siloed approach to service delivery that collects the same data from customers “again and again and again”.

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“(We) heard that people want the benefits of data being available across the government,” he said in an address to the Australian Information Industry Association at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday.

“We also heard that people want to have the confidence that the government is managing data safely and securely, with their best interest in mind.”

Mr Robert said the benefits of reformed data availability laws would include people and businesses having access to the services they need without having to contact multiple government areas to provide the same information.

It would also allow academics and scientists greater access to public sector data to be used as part of research.

But Greens justice and digital rights spokesperson Nick McKim said the potential weakening of privacy standards left the door open for personal data to be misused.

“The government has a terrible record of mismanaging personal information,” he said.

“The government can’t be trusted to safely guard people’s private data and we will scrutinise this legislation closely to make sure privacy is not compromised.”

Mr Robert said the changes were proposed after consultation with industry, academia and privacy groups.

He aims to introduce a bill that would change the laws by June next year.

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