Stronger laws to protect the personal information of Western Australians while allowing the responsible sharing of government data will come into effect on 1 July 2026.
An independent Information Commissioner, Privacy Deputy Commissioner and Information Access Deputy Commissioner will have a range of robust powers between them, including the power to consider and resolve privacy complaints.
The legislation is the first of its kind in Australia and also establishes a Chief Data Officer to lead and develop public sector capability for secure and responsible data sharing in line with international best practice.
The suite of new laws falls under the Privacy and Responsible Information Sharing Act 2024 (PRIS Act) and the Information Commissioner Act 2024.
Attorney General Dr Tony Buti said: “Privacy protections are becoming more important than ever as technology, such as artificial intelligence, becomes increasingly integrated into our everyday lives.
“The new laws position our State as a privacy leader in Australia, introducing unique protections around automated decision-making and protecting de-identified information.
“The government is committed to protecting the personal information of all Western Australians and the new independent privacy regulator will guarantee ongoing compliance.”
As part of the government’s commitment to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations will be empowered to access and use the data.
An information breach scheme, requiring agencies to notify the Information Commissioner and affected individuals of serious information breaches, will commence on 1 January 2027.
