Government agencies could access personal data without consent under new bill

Privacy advocates fear Coalition’s proposed data-sharing law could allow for robodebt-style tactics

Australians’ personal information could be accessed by government agencies and researchers without their consent under proposed data-sharing legislation that critics say could pave the way for more robodebt-style tactics.

In a speech at an Australian Financial Review conference this week, the former government services minister Stuart Robert said it wasn’t his job to make government “sexy”, but make it simple.

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