From www.cglaw.com.au: Australia’s recent privacy law reforms include a mandatory data breach reporting scheme and increased penalties for data breaches, driven by significant incidents at Optus and Medibank.

Proposed amendments introduce a statutory tort for serious privacy invasions, a Children’s Online Privacy Code, and heightened enforcement powers for regulators, with the updated laws now in effect following parliamentary approval.

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner warns organisations to update privacy policies and handle personal information cautiously, particularly when utilising AI systems.