Privacy 108 Webinar on the Privacy Reforms 2026: Consultation on Exposure Draft

Join Dr Jodie Siganto, Founder of Privacy 108, alongside privacy specialists Jonathan Gadir and Tom Mackie, for a concise briefing on Australia’s proposed reforms to the Privacy Act 1988. Announced on 31 August as part of a formal consultation process, the reform package includes 41 proposed changes, some long-anticipated and others entirely new, with submissions due 18 September.

This session unpacks six key areas of the proposed reforms, including:

• Definitional changes, including the shift from personal information being “about” to “relating to” an individual, the inclusion of technical identifiers, precise geolocation and genomic data, and updates to the definitions of collection, disclosure and consent
• The new “fair and reasonable” test, which would replace existing APP 3 and APP 6 requirements around collection, use and disclosure with a single overarching standard
• A limited right of erasure, applying specifically to large digital platforms such as major social media services
• Changes to direct marketing and online tracking rules, including the introduction of a “trading in personal information” concept that may require consent for common digital advertising practices

Drawing on Privacy 108’s submission to the consultation and deep practical experience advising government and corporate clients, Jodie, Jonathan and Tom offer their analysis of what these reforms could mean for Australian organisations, and where the proposed bill may still fall short of international standards such as the GDPR.

Other Resources

• To read our blog post on the 2026 Privacy Reforms, click here.
• For a one-page overview of the proposed reforms, click here.
• To read our submission to the exposure draft, click here.