Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I have a couple of questions that I would like to put to you, Minister Fierravanti-Wells, recognising that you are here in a representative capacity. Firstly, regarding the issue that we just took the second reading vote on, can the minister explain, just in case senators are not aware, why political parties are exempt from the Privacy Act? The second reading amendment that we just voted on is, as a second reading amendment, basically guidance to the government. It does not oblige the government to do anything, but we believe that political parties and businesses that are carrying large amounts of personal information, whether they are operating above or below a really arbitrary $3 million turnover threshold, should be obliged to notify users if they lose control of their private information. Why are political parties exempt from the parent act that we are amending and, therefore, from the operation of this bill?