AUSTRALIA: Likely increase in maximum penalties for privacy breaches

As part of the Australian Government’s response to the public outcry generated by these breaches, a change to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) has been introduced into the Australian Parliament. If passed, this will increase the maximum civil penalties payable under the Act from the current AUD 2.22 million to the greater of:

• AUD 50 million;
• three times the value of the benefit resulting from the breach; or
• 30% of the adjusted turnover of the entity in the 12 months prior to the breach.