PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Mr PIKE (Bowman) (18:12): Can I start by thanking the previous member for that wonderful contribution. As the shadow assistant minister for disability, I think it's important that we get the balance right when we're dealing with this sort of new technology, because these innovative new products can, of course, create great threats for people that we represent but also can open up some significant doors.
Of course, the glasses are just the first iteration. Who knows what's next around the corner? So we've got to make sure that, when we are legislating, we are taking in all factors and considering what it's going to mean for every Australian.
I want to touch on some of the conversations that I've been having with my constituents about privacy. I think I wouldn't be alone here. I think every member of this place would have had a number of constituents reach out to them in relation to the big data breaches that we've seen recently from some of Australia's biggest companies.
The concern that these individuals had about what had occurred to them and their family members was significant, and it's important that we take a holistic approach to dealing with this issue. But there are also individuals that we see whose privacy has been breached not through some big hack that's occurred in corporate Australia somewhere but just through having their identity stolen through their email or a password that's been copied.
It's an area of significant concern for a lot of Australians. Often it's something you don't think about until it happens to you, but it's important that we get the legislation right and ensure that we do all we can to protect Australians. Australians rightly expect that their personal information will be treated with care and properly protected.
The coalition supports strong privacy protections and laws that keep pace with rapid technological change. That's, of course, the inherent challenge for government in dealing with this issue, because as quickly as we can sometimes move in this place it's never going to be quite as quick as the technological changes that we're seeing. The government has released an exposure draft of further Privacy Act reforms, and the coalition is going to be considering those very carefully, including the concerns being raised by business, industry, privacy experts and consumers.
What we are a bit concerned about is the pace of the consultation at the moment. It's important that we're talking to all levels of Australians, all interested parties, and ensuring we get the right outcomes here. What we don't want to do is give Labor a blank cheque simply because it claims to have consulted.
The exposure draft was released on 31 August, with submissions closing on 18 September. That's fewer than three weeks for stakeholders to work through a substantial and technically complex package. That's a very short consultation period for reforms that could impose significant new legal, regulatory and compliance obligations on Australian businesses.
I've noticed a concerning trend with this government, where we're seeing shorter consultation periods. Particularly when they are consulting with members of the business community or other experts, we're often seeing the advent of non-disclosure agreements being signed in the course of that consultation, which makes it very difficult for those representing big organisations to go back and consult with those within the organisation who might have the answers that the government's seeking.
The other concern that we have on this side is that the government needs to be upfront about the cost of these reforms for small and family businesses. I'm sure many of the members here have been consulting with small businesses across their electorates. They know how difficult it is at the moment.
A lot of small businesses in my electorate are going to the wall. Certainly, I'm noticing a massive collapse in confidence. It seems to me that whenever I'm speaking to a small business in the Redlands they outline different growth opportunities that they might have, but the general sense is that they can't risk putting on new staff and it's all become too complex and expensive.
Small businesses have been burnt by additional Albanese government regulation in the past and have been left to foot the bill. Small businesses cannot afford to be burdened with the cost of these reforms, and any legislation must explicitly tell businesses how much it will cost them. The coalition is particularly concerned with the interaction between the proposed reforms and the existing small-business exemption.
Small businesses should not be dragged into a more complex and expensive privacy regime, because of data practices controlled by large third-party platforms or technology providers. Responsibility should sit with those businesses that actually collect, control and commercialise personal information. They're the key factors that we're interested in protecting as we proceed with this legislation.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Dr Haines ): The time allotted for this debate has expired. The debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting.