Please be aware this is an archived version of the Strategic Plan. Please go to the current strategic plan page for the latest version.

• Introduction by the Privacy Commissioner
• Our purpose
• We will be known among our stakeholders as
• Our driving force
• Our value focus
• Operational focus
• Strategic themes
• Key result areas
• PDF version of Strategic Plan 2000 (170K)
• Contact us

Explanation of Key TermsAbout usMedia release

Strategic Plan 2000

Introduction by the Privacy Commissioner

I am pleased to present the Strategic Plan for the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.

Clearly, the purpose of the Office is to promote an Australian culture that respects privacy. Our challenge has been to look for ways to do this most effectively within resources available.

All members of staff of the Office took part in developing the Plan during 1999. It reflects many hours of thinking and discussions about how best the Office should position itself in the face of the challenges and new opportunities before it.

The Plan is timely given the changing environment faced by the Office in comparison with when the Office first came into being in 1989.

In particular, the past decade has seen the arrival of the information society. Advances in information technologies, particularly those associated with the growth of the Internet, have transformed how we conduct many of our daily activities, including banking and shopping, research, study, using government services, and staying in touch with family, friends and business associates. Yet none of the earlier challenges have diminished.

New information technologies have brought new and potentially privacy intrusive ways of generating, using, and disseminating personal information. My Office is keen to work with others to develop privacy platforms and solutions that give the Australian community confidence in their use of new technologies.

Federal Government proposals to legislate in 2000 to establish a privacy scheme for the private sector would see a significant expansion in the role and responsibilities of the Privacy Commissioner, which would build on our existing role in relation to the federal government sector. As a relatively small Office with national responsibilities, we have a finite amount of resources. We believe that the Strategic Plan will help us develop new and clever ways of using our resources to maximum effect.

The Plan outlines the Office's purpose, its main areas of focus and what we want to be known for in our roles with both public and private sectors. The plan then sets out the way we will operate to achieve our objectives.

We are committed to the Plan, and to working co-operatively with others towards its fulfilment.

Malcolm Crompton, Privacy Commissioner

Back to Top

Our purpose - our reason for being for the next 10 years:

To promote an Australian culture that respects privacy.

Back to Top

We will be known among our stakeholders as:

• Experts in the application of privacy principles
• Partners in developing and promoting privacy solutions
• A clear and balanced voice on privacy principles

Back to Top

Our driving force - the focus of our decision making and priority setting:

Everybody in Australia who needs a privacy solution.

Back to Top

Our value focus - the primary value we want to deliver to our stakeholders, over 3-5 years:

Privacy solutions that build confidence throughout the Australian community.

Back to Top

Operational focus - the way we operate to deliver value:

We will develop a network of partners and information to ensure that privacy solutions are delivered in all parts of the community.

Back to Top

Strategic themes - main area of focus we have to advance by all our efforts:

• Implementing new legislation
• Developing a network of influence across the community
• Promoting a balanced understanding of privacy in the community
• Utilising a well respected risk-management framework to focus our efforts
• Building a cohesive team through strategic discussion and optimisation of people's talents

Back to Top

Key result areas:

1. A well established network of people and organisations ready to support implementation of privacy solutions.
2. A comprehensive understanding of current community perceptions of privacy.
3. Strategic themes reflected in everyone's job and role.
4. Office of the Privacy Commissioner ready and prepared to implement new legislation.

Back to Top