Communications Council Prepares Aussies for New Privacy Laws

The Communications Council will hold a series of legal seminars across NSW, VIC, QLD, WA and SA this month to prepare both members and industry professionals for the new privacy laws which come into play from 12th March 2014. 

The changes will see the introduction of 13 mandatory Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and failure to comply could result in penalties of up to $1.7million. The laws apply to all organisations that collect personal information and have a minimum annual turnover of $3 million, though it is expected that organisations outside of this threshold will voluntarily subscribe to the APPs to adopt best practice. 

Sessions will be delivered Stephen von Muenster of von Muenster Solicitors & Attorneys - a specialist legal practitioner with intimate knowledge of the advertising, marketing, media, communications, public relations, IT and entertainment industries. Free to members of The Communications Council, with tickets available for non-members, the seminars will advise attendees on how to manage client expectations as well as learning their own legal responsibilities.

Margaret Zabel, CEO of The Communications Council said: “Ensuring you are aware of your responsibilities is a part of maintaining your agency’s compliance across the legal and regulatory landscape. Current procedures for the collection of personal information will need to be adapted, and it is important that key issues that will immediately impact your marketing activities are identified now and prepared for. This is a very important update for our members, and as such we are pleased to be offering these seminars at no additional fee, as part of our professional development program.” 

The seminar will help attendees to:

- understand the law;

- understand how to adapt current procedures for the collection and usage of personal information;

- identify key issues that will have immediate impact on your marketing activities; and,

- manage your ongoing compliance. 

Check out the list below to register.

VIC

8am – 9.30am, Thursday 6 March

CHE Proximity - Level 9 650 Chapel Street, Melbourne 

Member registration Book / Non members – $66 inc gst: Book 

NSW

8am – 9.30am, Tuesday 11 March

Ogilvy – 72 Christie St St Leonards, Sydney

Member registration Book / Non members – $66 inc gst: Book

WA

8am – 9.30am, Friday 14 March

UWA Club – Hackett Drive Entrance 1 / Carpark 3, Perth

Member registration Book / Non members – $66 inc gst: Book

SA

11am – 12.30pm, Friday 21 March 

KWP – 6 Solomon St Adelaide 

Member registration Book / Non members – $66 inc gst: Book

QLD

9am – 10.30am, Friday 4 April

Australian Institute of Management- Management House

367 Boundary Rd (cnr Rosa St), Springhill, Brisbane 

Member registration Book / Non members – $66 inc gst: Book