To keep pace with overall data privacy legislation changes here in Australia, the WA government has recently announced new laws to ensure West Australians will now have more control and influence over their own personal data.

Following an extensive consultation period that commenced in 2019, this process is amongst other things designed to be fit-for-purpose for WA. Some of these new developments will see the creation of:

• New role of Privacy Commissioner to protect the rights of Western Australians
• Introduction of mandatory data breach notification scheme
• New Chief Data Officer to promote culture of transparency and safe use of Government-held data.

To read the statement in full direct from the WA Government media department, please see https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2022/12/New-privacy-laws-to-protect-the-personal-data-of-Western-Australians.aspx