Full service marketing and growth advisory, Affinity, has published a new whitepaper to assist businesses in preparing for the upcoming changes to Australia’s Privacy Act, set to take effect in two stages starting in early 2025.

The whitepaper, titled 'Preparing for Australia’s Privacy Act Reforms', draws insights from the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and offers a proactive approach for Australian businesses to avoid potential pitfalls. Key topics discussed in the whitepaper include stricter consent requirements, special rules for children’s data, and transparency in automated decision-making.

CEO of Affinity, Luke Brown, views the reforms as an opportunity for businesses to innovate, build trust, and ensure compliance through privacy-by-design strategies. He said: "Australia’s Privacy Act reforms are a game-changer for businesses, much like GDPR was for Europe. We see these changes not as a burden but as an opportunity for businesses to innovate and differentiate themselves by prioritising consumer trust. Those who prepare now will be in a prime position to capitalise on the evolving privacy landscape."

Affinity has collaborated with Anisimoff Legal to outline practical steps that businesses can take now to prepare for these changes. The whitepaper is available for free download on the Affinity website.

The first set of reforms is expected to take effect in early 2025, with the second tranche anticipated in mid-2025. The whitepaper highlights the impact of GDPR on businesses, particularly SMEs, and urges Australian businesses to take a proactive stance.