WA to Hire Chief Data Officer Following Privacy Law Passage
These initiatives, under legislation passed on Thursday, aim to strengthen privacy protections and ensure the safe sharing of information across government and trusted entities. This marks a significant step forward in data governance for the state.
The new laws will require public sector agencies to implement privacy principles for handling personal information and establish mandatory reporting obligations for data breaches affecting ministers, parliamentary secretaries, public entities, and contracted service providers. According to the government, the chief data officer will play a key role in promoting a culture of transparency, accountability, and safe data use while developing public sector capabilities for responsible information sharing.
Stephen Dawson, the Minister for Innovation and the Digital Economy, hailed the legislation as a vital move to safeguard personal information in Western Australia. He emphasised the government’s responsibility as custodians of public data to leverage it for better decision-making, improved public services, and innovation, all while maintaining robust privacy standards.