In the age of big data, personal information has become a valuable currency. This is an issue that should concern us all, especially as we face growing challenges around privacy, trust, and the use of our data.

Recent discussions around political robo-calls have highlighted how easily personal information can be accessed and misused. This intrusion into our lives is not just annoying – it can be deeply distressing, especially for vulnerable members of the community. It leaves many of us questioning: How did these people get my phone number in the first place?

According to a recent investigation in The Conversation, data brokers are companies that collect, buy, and sell our personal information without our explicit consent. Australians lost a staggering $2.7 billion to scams in 2023 alone, much of it due to personal data being misused. The reality is that personal details – from your name and phone number to much more sensitive information – are being shared between brokers, telemarketers, and political campaigns without proper oversight.

What’s more troubling is that many data brokers get their information from the institutions we trust the most: utility companies, real estate agencies, and even government departments. Once your data is shared, it’s nearly impossible to stop it from being sold or used again – and sometimes that data makes its way to overseas telemarketers, who aren’t bound by Australian privacy laws.

While the recent push to ban how-to-vote cards near polling booths is a positive step in modernising electoral processes, political robo-calls remain a powerful and intrusive tool. Many Australians have received unsolicited political calls – often targeting them based on data that was collected and shared without their knowledge. It’s not just frustrating; it can be frightening, especially for people who believe their personal information is secure.

Our local MP, Gareth Ward, has acknowledged the importance of this issue and has offered to take the matter forward to the Joint Standing Committees on Electoral Matters at both the state and federal levels. This is a crucial step in addressing the misuse of personal data for political purposes and pushing for stronger privacy protections.

It’s crucial that we, as a community, demand greater transparency and accountability in how our personal data is used. The Australian government recently introduced privacy reforms, but they don’t go far enough in protecting us from the pervasive reach of data brokers and telemarketers. Until data brokers are required to obtain explicit consent before sharing our personal details, our privacy remains at risk.

Other leaders like Gareth Ward need to take this issue forward. By working together, we can ensure our community's voices are heard and our privacy is respected. Now is the time to take a stand and demand that our data is used responsibly, not as a tool for exploitation.