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From 12 March 2013 content is no longer being added to, or amended, on this site, consequently some information may be out of date.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.

If a real estate agent* collects information about me, what do they have to do under the Privacy Act?

Real estate agents covered by the Privacy Act must comply with the National Privacy Principles (NPPs). The NPPs tell organisations how they may collect, use, disclose and secure personal information.

These rules also give you a right to access information the agent holds about you and correct it if it is wrong.

Stricter rules apply to the collection of ‘sensitive' personal information. Generally, this information can only be collected with your consent.

Example: information about your religious beliefs, criminal record, racial/ethnic origin, and sexual preferences.

More information

The Guidelines to the National Privacy Principles, see collecting sensitive information

* Including property managers