National Data Advisory Council holds fifth meeting

The National Data Advisory Council has held its fifth meeting since its establishment in March 2019, discussing important issues surrounding data reforms in Australia.

The meeting commenced with a keynote speech from Minister for Government Services Stuart Robert, who stressed the importance of providing better and more streamlined government online services, policies and research.

It was chaired by the Assistant Secretary of the Office of the National Data Commissioner, Dr Phillip Gould, who used the meeting to highlight the challenges of genuine engagement with the public via online channels.

A major focus of the meeting was exploring key developments in the Data Availability and Transparency Bill, including a discussion on the draft accreditation framework that will accompany the legislated scheme.

The council provided views on ensuring the accreditation process balances rigour and ease of access, and discussed circumstances where liability rests on individuals versus organisations.

The council also discussed the engagement strategy for the upcoming public release and consultation of the Bill, reiterating how important it will be to build trust in the data sharing scheme if it is to achieve its desired results.

The council plans to meet again before the end of the year. Last year, the council met in March, July and November.

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