Site Changes

On 1 November 2010 the Office of the Privacy Commissioner was integrated into the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and a new website established at www.oaic.gov.au.

Note 1: Major changes to the Privacy Act 1988 will come into effect in March 2014. Agencies, businesses and not for profits need to start preparing for these changes. For more information go to our privacy law reform page at www.oaic.gov.au
Note 2: From 12 March 2013 content is no longer being added to, or amended, on this site, consequently some information may be out of date. For new privacy content visit the www.oaic.gov.au website.

Credit reporting

Part IIIA of the Privacy Act governs the handling of credit reports and other credit worthiness information about individuals by credit reporting agencies and credit providers. The Privacy Act ensures that the use of this information is restricted to assessing applications for credit lodged with a credit provider and other legitimate activities involved with giving credit.

Commercial credit information is not regulated by Part IIIA of the Privacy Act, however it is regulated by the National Privacy Principles where a credit reporting agency is bound by them.

See the Credit Reporting section for more information.

See the Office’s Law reform and Credit and finance pages for information on the Australian Government’s proposed changes to Part IIIA of the Privacy Act and a revised, binding credit code under the Privacy Act.