✦ Plain-English Summary

Data Availability and Transparency (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020

What it does

This bill makes technical fixes to existing Australian laws so they work properly with a new data-sharing law (the Data Availability and Transparency Act 2020). It updates four older laws to account for how foreign companies and organisations will be approved to access Australian government data.

Why it matters

The changes affect security checks on foreign entities wanting access to sensitive Australian data. If you work with or rely on international data-sharing arrangements, these rules now set clearer security requirements for who can participate.

Key details

• Security decisions stay private: When ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organisation) refuses or cancels approval for a foreign entity for security reasons, that decision can't be challenged in court — protecting national security information.

• Four laws updated: The bill tweaks the Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act, and two security-related laws to align with the new data framework.

• Comes into force automatically: This bill only starts working if the main Data Availability and Transparency Act 2020 actually commences — they're tied together.

Official Description

Introduced with the Data Availability and Transparency Bill 2020 to implement a scheme to authorise and regulate access to Australian Government data, the bill makes consequential amendments to the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 , Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 , Freedom of Information Act 1982 and Privacy Act 1988 in relation to the operation of the scheme.

Committee Referrals

Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee

No formal division recorded

This bill passed by voice vote — parliament agreed without calling a formal count. A division is only recorded when a member explicitly requests one.

No votes yet.

No votes were recorded for this bill.