Record Data Breaches Reported in Australia for 2025

In 2025, Australia experienced an unprecedented number of data breach notifications, with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) receiving 1,205 reports, an 8% increase from 2024. The majority of these breaches (716) were attributed to cyber hacking, with health service providers being the most affected sector, accounting for 225 notifications. Other sectors impacted included financial services, government agencies, and education. The OAIC has introduced a new quick reference guide to assist entities in complying with the Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme. The rising number of breaches has heightened public concern, with 82% of Australians identifying data breaches as a significant privacy risk. The OAIC continues to encourage compliance and offers guidance to regulated organizations.

Key Points: • 1,205 data breach notifications were reported in Australia in 2025, the highest since 2018. • Cyber hacking was the primary cause, with health service providers most affected. • The OAIC has released a new guide to help organizations navigate the NDB scheme.