Tuesday, 24 March 2026
Description
This program is based on WA legislation
A New Privacy and Information Sharing Regime for Western Australia
Western Australia is on the brink of a major privacy reform with the Privacy and Responsible Information Sharing Act 2024. From 1 July 2026, government agencies will operate under a new framework for managing and sharing personal information and you and your clients need to be prepared.
- Federal vs State: How WA’s regime differs from the Federal privacy framework
- Who the new laws apply to and why it matters
- From 1 July 2026:
- Principles and standards for collecting, using, storing, and sharing personal information
- Strict requirements for risk, decision-making, and transparency when sharing data
- Ensuring Aboriginal voices are included when information impacts Aboriginal people and communities
- From 1 January 2027:
- Mandatory reporting of serious data breaches to the Information Commissioner and affected individuals
Presented by David Baxter Cox, Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers
Chair
Elspeth Hensler, Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers
Presenters
David Baxter Cox, Barrister, Francis Burt ChambersDr David Cox is a barrister at Francis Burt Chambers. For over 15 years as a solicitor, he specialised in advising clients on the protection, commercialisation, and enforcement of the full spectrum of intangible rights, including confidentiality and privacy. Now at the Bar, David leverages this experience to develop innovative and cost-effective strategies to protect, enhance, and draw value from intangible asset portfolios. He is a former Honorary Fellow at the School of Law at the University of Western Australia and served as Chairman of the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia from 2014 to 2020.
Elspeth Hensler, Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers
Elspeth Hensler is an accomplished commercial barrister with extensive experience in banking, corporate, insolvency, revenue, mining and succession matters. She has made significant contributions to the WA legal profession through leadership roles in professional associations, CPD and Bar Reader course coordination, and pro bono initiatives. Elspeth is a Legal Aid WA Commissioner, a former President of Australian Women Lawyers and Women Lawyers of WA and has served on numerous committees and advisory boards. Her expertise, commitment to the profession, and recognition through multiple awards, including the Attorney General’s Community Service Law Award, reflect her standing as a respected leader in the legal community.
