Protecting Information Rights – Advancing Information Policy

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Topics

Identity and ID: Brochures (1) | Guidelines (1) | Information Sheets (2) | Media Releases (21) | Reports (1) | Speeches (13) | Submissions (13)

 

Brochures

About the Office

private i - your ultimate privacy survival guide

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Whether you never think about privacy or always do, this publication is for you. It’ll tell you what some of the privacy issues are that you may face, some of the pitfalls to avoid, and who to turn to for help if your privacy has been affected.

 

Guidelines

Privacy and Public Key Infrastructure: for Agencies using PKI to communicate or transact with individuals (December 2001)

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Information Sheets

Private Sector

Information Sheet (Private Sector) 30 - 2010: ID scanning in clubs and pubs

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This information sheet is for private sector hospitality organisations like clubs and pubs that are covered by the Privacy Act.  It provides compliance tips and examples for when they copy, scan or otherwise collect personal information about their patrons.

Information Sheet (Private Sector) 20 - 2007: Scanning 'Proof of Identity' Documents

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Key Messages  Good privacy practices are good for business. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner (the Office) is aware that with the adoption of new technologies by many businesses, the practice of scanning proof of identity documents is becoming more common. This practice can, however, create significant privacy risks and could undermi...

 

Media Releases

2010

Privacy Commissioner tells pubs and clubs: Don't scan IDs unless you know your privacy obligations

4 May 10  The Australian Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis, has told pubs and clubs to familiarise themselves with their legal obligations when looking to collect patrons' identity information.

Asia Pacific Privacy Commissioners join together to fight identity theft

3 May 10  A new free online tool to help people protect themselves against identity theft has been launched as part of Privacy Awareness Week 2010.

Privacy Commissioner urges all Australians: Take privacy into your own hands

30 April 10  As Privacy Awareness Week (2-8 May) commences for 2010, the Australian Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis, is calling on all Australians to take practical steps to protect their privacy.

2007

Media Release: Privacy Commissioner advises pubs and clubs on ID scanning obligations

30 August 2007 The Australian Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis, has today issued advice to pubs, clubs and other organisations that scan peoples ID documents or are considering doing so to seriously consider their obligations under the Privacy Act. "If pubs and clubs that scan peoples ID fail to heed their obligations under the Privacy...

Media Release: National privacy survey: ID theft, ID scanning and online privacy concerns are on the rise

28 August 2007 A national survey commissioned by the Office of the Australian Privacy Commissioner has found that technological developments have increased Australians privacy concerns. Among the findings are: ID THEFT: 9% of Australians claim to have been victims of ID theft and 60% are concerned about becoming a victim. 45%...

Media Release: Access Card Bill makes progress in promoting privacy, says Privacy Commissioner

22/08/2007 The Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis, has acknowledged the progress made with the second public exposure draft of the Human Services (Enhanced Service Delivery) Bill 2007, in advancing privacy protections for the Governments proposed Access Card. "While there are still a number of steps that can be taken to enhance the Access...

Media Release: Access Card consultations will allow remaining privacy concerns to be aired, says Privacy Commissioner

21st June 2007 The Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis, has welcomed the release of the second exposure draft for the Access Card legislation [accesscard.gov.au] and the consultation process. "Extensive consultation regarding the proposed Access Card legislation will allow the Cards privacy safeguards to be thoroughly examined," Ms C...

Media Announcement: Privacy Commissioner supports ID theft awareness campaign

26 March 2007 The Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis, has voiced her support for the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforces campaign, "Scams target you - protect yourself", and its "protect your identity" theme. "ID theft is a growing phenomenon and people need to take steps to safeguard their personal information," Ms Curtis said. Ms...

Media Announcement: Privacy Commissioner comments on draft Access Card legislation

22/1/07 The Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis, has welcomed the exposure draft of the legislation governing the health and social services access card and accompanying system. "The legislation presents an opportunity to prescribe the purpose, functions and practical operation of the access card and has the potential to offer Austra...

2006

Media Release: Privacy Commissioner welcomes release of the Access Card Task Force Report

8/11/06 The Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis, today welcomed the release by the Minister for Human Services of the Consumer and Privacy Task Force Report into the Health and Social Services Access Card, as well as the generally positive response by the Government to the Task Forces recommendations. "I am pleased to see the emphasis that has b...

Media Announcement: Privacy Commissioner responds to Access Card Taskforce Paper

25/08/2006 The Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis, has recommended a range of privacy safeguards be developed for the proposed health and social services access card. These recommendations have been made in her submission to the first Discussion Paper released by the Access Card Consumer and Privacy Taskforce. ''There is a need to ensure t...

Media Announcement: Privacy Commissioner comments on the health and welfare access card system

27 April 2006"I believe that the potential benefits the access card could bring to health and welfare service delivery can be achieved while respecting the privacy rights of individuals," said Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis. "However, for this to occur it is essential that appropriate privacy protections are built in early, particularly into...

2004

Media Release: We must get identification management right to avoid losing our privacy

31/3/04 "Identity management is the topic that government and business need to get right if we are all to live in a free, open and safe society," said Malcolm Crompton, Federal privacy Commissioner. "The time is right to have an open debate about identity management." "This is particularly urgent because there are currently a very larg...

2003

Media Release: Protection of Human Genetic Information - Report released

29 May 2003 The Federal Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton, today welcomed the launch of the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) and the Australian Health Ethics Committee (AHEC) Joint Inquiry Report: Essentially Yours: The Protection of Human Genetic Information in Australia by the Commonwealth Attorney-General and Minister for Health a...

Media Release: Report on Forensic procedures & DNA materials tabled

15 May 2003 The Federal Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton, and the Commonwealth Ombudsman, Professor John McMillan, today welcomed the Governments tabling of the independent review into the use and sharing of DNA material for law enforcement purposes (detailed report below). Mr Crompton and Professor McMillan said "we look forw...

2002

Media Release: Guilty until proven innocent

9 August 2002 "DNA testing all children at birth and storing this sensitive data on a criminal database has the very real potential to undermine our civil liberties by eroding our privacy and implying that we are all guilty until proven innocent," said Federal Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton. "In the current environment there...

Media Release: Privacy law doesn't risk lives

7 August 2002 "A recent media article stating that Privacy laws risk lives is inaccurate. Under the Privacy Act if a genetic test is conducted on an individual, then they have a right to know the results of the test," said Federal Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton. "The situation is less clear over the question of whether the test re...

2001

Media Release: Public Key Infrastructure Guidelines

24 December 2001 "I am pleased to announce the release of Privacy and Public Key Infrastructure: Guidelines for Agencies using PKI to communicate or transact with individuals" said Malcolm Crompton, Federal Privacy Commissioner. "These guidelines will assist government agencies in addressing privacy issues when implementing Public Key In...

Media Release: Australians to deal with government securely online (PKI issues)

12/6/2001 "There are significant privacy issues for government agencies to address in implementing Public Key Infrastructures", said Timothy Pilgrim, Deputy Privacy Commissioner as he issued the Offices consultation paper "Privacy Issues in the Use of Public Key Infrastructure for Individuals" for public comment. The Office has wor...

2000

Media Release: PKI - Making sure it works for privacy

1/12/2000 PKI - Making sure it works for privacy The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has responded to government moves to use Public Key Infrastructures (PKI) by announcing its intention to issue guidelines on appropriate use of these technologies. The Office will be working with the National Office for the Information Economy on th...

Media Release: Gene Technology Inquiry is an opportunity to get privacy right

Media Release 9/8/2000 Gene Technology Inquiry is an opportunity to get privacy right Safeguarding privacy of personal health information will be essential if the community is to gain the benefits from adoption of new gene technologies in the treatment of medical conditions. The Privacy Commissioner Malcolm Crompton, applauded...

 

Reports

Audit Reports - Australian Government

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs and Centrelink: Document Verification Service Prototype

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Speeches

2010

Privacy, research and e-health

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Speech by Timothy Pilgrim, Deputy Privacy Commissioner, to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Conference, Canberra, 23 June 2010

2007

Emerging Privacy Issues

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Presentation by Timothy Pilgrim, Deputy Privacy Commissioner, to the Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference,ÿSydney, 24 October 2007.

Biometrics and Privacy

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Speech by Timothy Pilgrim, Deputy Privacy Commissioner, to Biometrics Institute,ÿCanberra, 21 November 2007.

2005

ID theft is a major invasion of privacy

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A speech by Privacy Commissioner Karen Curtis, for the Safeguarding Australia Conference, Tuesday 12 July.

2004

De-identification of Personal Information

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A speech delivered by A/Deputy Director, Policy, Kara Mitchell at the 26 November 2004 PCO meeting.

Privacy in a Hi-Tech World:.Technology, Policing and Identity Management - Speech Notes

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Speech delivered by The Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis, at 2nd International Policing Conference 2004, Adelaide, 3 November 2004.

Proof of ID required? Getting Identity Management Right

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Speech delivered by the Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton, to the Australian IT Security Forum, Sydney, March 30.

2003

Employee privacy and biometrics

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delivered by the Director of Corporate and Public Affairs, Robin McKenzie, to the 2003 Workplace Review Conference of the Association for Payroll Specialists, Sydney, November 26.

Under the Gaze: Privacy, Identity and New Technology

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a breakfast presentation delivered by the Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton, to senior ICT executives at a breakfast hosted by IBM Tivoli, Canberra, 7 May 2003.

Biometrics & Privacy

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a speech delivered by the Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton, to the Security in Government Conference, organised by the Attorney-General''s Department, Canberra, 1 May 2003

2002

Under the Gaze, Privacy Identity & New Technology

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a speech delivered by the Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton, to the Third Privacy Forum, hosted by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner New Zealand, Wellington, 28 March 2003.

Privacy and Public Registers

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a speech delivered by the Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton, to the 30th Australasian Registrars Conference, Canberra, 15 November 2002.

Biometrics and Privacy - The End of The World as We Know It or The White Knight of Privacy?

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a speech delivered by Malcolm Crompton, Privacy Commissioner, to the Conference on Biometrics - Security and Authorisation, organised by the Biometrics Institute, Sydney, 20 March 2002.

 

Submissions

2010

The adequacy of protections for the privacy of Australians online; Submission to Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts (August 2010)

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Submission to Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts on the adequacy of protections for the privacy of Australians online (August 2010)

Exposure Draft - Healthcare Identifiers Bill 2010; Submission to the Department of Health and Ageing (January 2010)

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Submission on Exposure Draft - Healthcare Identifiers Bill 2010 to the Department of Health and Ageing January 2010

2008

Inquiry into the Migration Legislation Amendment (Worker Protection) Bill 2008: Submission to Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee (October 2008)

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October 2008 Senator the Hon Trish Crossin Chair, Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Dear Senator Crossin SENATE LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL COMMITTEE INQUIRY INTO THE MIGRATION LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (WORK...

2007

Consultation on the second exposure draft of the Human Services (Enhanced Service Delivery) Bill 2007; Submission to the Australian Government Office of the Access Card (August 2007)

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Submission to the Australian Government Office of the Access Card August 2007 Summary Office of the Privacy Commissioner Background Previous engagement Structure of this submission Privacy and the access card system Public engagement and scrutiny Progress since the...

Inquiry into the Human Services (Enhanced Service Delivery) Bill 2007; Submission to the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee (February 2007)

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Submission to the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee February 2007 Office of the Privacy Commissioner Background General comments Detailed comments on the Bill Part 1 - Introduction Part 2 - Registration Information on the register Discretionary funct...

Inquiry into the AusCheck Bill 2006; Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee (February 2007)

Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs CommitteeFebruary 2007 Office of the Privacy Commissioner The Office of the Privacy Commissioner (the Office) is an independent statutory body whose purpose is to promote and protect privacy in Australia. The Office, established under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the Privacy Act) has re...

Inquiry into the AusCheck Bill 2006 - Questions on Notice Supplementary Submission

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QUESTIONS ON NOTICE QUESTION 1 Received from Senator KIRK: The Senator asked the Office of the Privacy Commissioner to provide the committee with a form of words regarding how clause 5(d) could be re drafted to reflect the Offices comments that it could benefit from being referenced to the risk associated with particular appoin...

2006

Consultation on the Australian Government Health and Social Services Access Card - Discussion Paper Number 1; Submission to the Department of Human Services: Access Card Consumer and Privacy Taskforce (August 2006)

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August 2006 Table of Contents Summary Office of the Privacy Commissioner Background Structure of this submission Preliminary Comments by the Office Incorporating fundamental privacy principles into policy settings Necessity for a comprehensive privacy...

Improving Identity Check Processes for Pre-paid Mobile Services; Submission to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (April 2006)

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April 2006 Executive Summary 1. Office of the Privacy Commissioner  2. Background 3. Experience of the Office 4. References to the Privacy Act 5. Identity Management 6. Operation of the National Privacy Principles 6.1 Collecting and storing only necessary information 6.2 T...

1999

Submission: Tax File Number Inquiry (November 1999)

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