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From 12 March 2013 content is no longer being added to, or amended, on this site, consequently some information may be out of date.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

Contractors to Government

Privacy Obligations For Commonwealth Contracts

Federal government agencies are required to comply with the Information Privacy Principles (IPPs) in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) when handling personal information. At times agencies contract out (outsource) a function that requires a contractor to collect and handle personal information on behalf of the agency. In such situations agencies and contractors have privacy obligations.

For further information on the privacy obligations surrounding Commonwealth contracts please read Information Sheet 14.

Australian Government Solicitor Legal Briefing and model clause for privacy and Commonwealth agency outsourcing

The Australian Government Solicitor has prepared a Legal Briefing (No 63) on privacy and Commonwealth agency outsourcing which is called Outsourcing: Agency Obligations under the Privacy Act. The briefing includes a model clause to assist Commonwealth agencies to discharge their responsibilities under section 95B of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) when drafting Commonwealth contracts.

Outsourcing: Agency Obligations under the Privacy Act