Analysis

At last, consumers to take centre stage on digital safety

After years of consumer interests taking a back seat, federal cabinet is about to consider reforms that are expected to vastly improve the security of citizens’ personal information.

Tom BurtonGovernment editor

Nov 18, 2022 – 5.30am

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After years of indifference to consumer interests, recommendations from leading regulators to ban unfair trading practices are expected to be the central pillar of a digital regulatory regime being developed for the Albanese cabinet.

All the signs are that senior ministers, spurred by the continuing fallout from the Optus and Medibank data breaches, are ready to embrace the almost universal calls to significantly strengthen digital safety.

Tom Burton has held senior editorial and publishing roles with The Mandarin, The Sydney Morning Herald and as Canberra bureau chief for The Australian Financial Review. He has won three Walkley awards.