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A recent case found an employer breached privacy laws by sharing an employee’s medical information with staff, despite claiming workplace health and safety obligations. The exemption for employee records under the Privacy Act 1988 didn’t apply, resulting in the employer paying compensation.

She then claimed her privacy had been breached.

Health and medical privacy in the workplace is a central concern of the Commonwealth privacy law that covers Australian businesses.

NSW has introduced new industrial manslaughter laws to strengthen workplace safety, with harsher penalties for gross negligence leading to deaths in the workplace.

New laws can into effect on September 27 regarding the eligibility of casuals to convert to permanent employment.

On June 20, 2024, the NSW Parliament enacted the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Industrial Manslaughter) Bill into law. This legislation introduces the offence of industrial manslaughter, punishable by prison terms of up to 25 years for individuals and fines of up to $20 million for companies.

Australian businesses have seen a rise in cyber security risks targeting websites and customer data, creating new privacy challenges.

As data breaches and privacy concerns become more prevalent, businesses will need to increasingly prioritise the protection of individuals' personal information.