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From 12 March 2013 content is no longer being added to, or amended, on this site, consequently some information may be out of date.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

Western Australia

The State public sector in Western Australia does not currently have a legislative privacy regime. Various confidentiality provisions cover government agencies and some of the privacy principles are provided for in the Freedom of Information Act 1992. On 28 March 2007 the Information Privacy Bill 2007 was introduced to the WA Parliament.

If enacted, it will establish a set of Information Privacy Principles and regulate the handling of personal information by the public sector and the handling of health information by the public and private sectors. It will also establish an Information and Privacy Commissioner (encompassing the current Information Commissioner) and provide for that Office to be amalgamated with the Office of the Western Australian Ombudsman.

Relevant Western Australian laws include: