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From 12 March 2013 content is no longer being added to, or amended, on this site, consequently some information may be out of date.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

Can a business use the electronic white pages; or the electoral roll; or land titles information; to get information to assist with cold calling?

Yes. These are publicly available sources of personal information and the NPPs do not prevent the business from using the information in them for marketing purposes. The business will have the same obligations as the bridal boutique.

Depending on how an organisation wishes to use publicly available personal information, some more difficult questions can arise. For more information on publicly available personal information, click here Information Sheet 17. For more information about the coverage of the NPPs, click here Information Sheet 12.

Note that some public registers have specific laws that limit the use of the information on the register. The business should check any restrictions with the relevant body, for example, the Australian Electoral Commission or the state land title office.