Victorian AMA seeks to allay privacy concerns as lower house passes contentious health database bill

Some argue a centralised system - with no ability to opt out - will remove people's autonomy over their medical information

• Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates
• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

Victoria's peak medical body has sought to quell privacy concerns over a bid to centralise all medical records across the state's public health systems, saying the benefits outweigh the risks 99 to 1%".

Civil liberty groups have argued the centralised database - which would come with no ability to opt out - removes people's autonomy over their health information, while the stalking survivor Di McDonald pointed to data breaches at Medibank and Optus as examples of how hackers might access personal details.

Sign up for Guardian Australia's free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup