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- 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From 12 March 2013 content is no longer being added to, or amended, on this site, consequently some information may be out of date.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.
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Media Announcement: Release of Privacy Impact Assessment Guide and Layered Privacy Policy
29/8/06
The Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis, today announced the release of two new documents: the Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) Guide and a new Privacy Policy for her Office.
"These two documents will undoubtedly play an important role in assisting agencies and organisations in further developing their privacy systems and procedures," said Ms Curtis.
The PIA Guide is intended to assist Australian and ACT Government agencies in determining the impact new organisational proposals could have on privacy. The PIA Guide will enable agencies to critically examine and assess their project's capacity to comply with the Privacy Act, as well as inform agencies about broader privacy issues raised by the project.
"A project which underestimates privacy impacts, and as a result makes privacy mistakes or simply gets privacy wrong, can place its overall success at risk by breaching privacy legislation or by not meeting the test of trust and acceptance by the community," said Ms Curtis.
"It is therefore in an agency's interests to do a PIA for any projects which involve the handling of personal information."
While the PIA Guide has been targeted at agencies, private sector organisations will also find it useful.
The new Privacy Policy for the Office of the Privacy Commissioner adopts a layered notice format to enhance the ease with which people access and understand the Office's privacy policy. The Policy will be used on the Office's website and provides browsers with both a condensed snapshot and full explanation of the Policy. The Policy is intended to serve as model for other agencies and organisations.
"Research has shown that individuals find privacy notices long and difficult to read and most do not read them at all," Ms Curtis said.
"Layered notices are an effective means of communicating the personal information handling practices of an agency or organisation.
"The Office's condensed Policy is easy to understand, using clear simple language and includes the most important information that individuals need and want to know about the Office's personal information handling practices."
"Should individuals want further information the condensed notice enables individuals to easily link to the Office's full privacy policy, which addresses the Office's legal requirements.
"I encourage agencies and organisations to consider adopting this approach to improve communications with customers and look forward to seeing layered privacy policies developed and implemented.
"I welcome feedback from individuals, organisations and agencies on these two documents and my Office is always ready to assist with any queries".
Privacy Enquiries line 1300 363 992.
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