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From 12 March 2013 content is no longer being added to, or amended, on this site, consequently some information may be out of date.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

Types

Topic(s): Compliance

Media Release: Deputy Federal Privacy Commissioner concludes Harts Investigation

12/2/2001

The Deputy Privacy Commissioner, Mr Timothy Pilgrim, today announced the results of his investigation into the disclosure of personal information by Harts Australasia.

"I have concluded my investigation and found that Harts did breach the Privacy Act," said Mr Pilgrim.

"I am pleased to advise that, by way of resolution, we have reached an agreement with Harts that includes an undertaking that they will contact all the people affected by this incident to apologise and offer to meet any costs they incurred in replacing documents that had been disclosed.

"Harts have also undertaken to address a number of problems with their internal information handling practices which were identified as part of our investigation including:

implementing secure information handling and disposal processes; and
ensuring that staff are made fully aware of the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988, and secure information handling processes.

"These undertakings, I believe, adequately address our concerns," Mr Pilgrim said.

"Our Office will also undertake a further inspection of Harts operations in the coming months. I welcome Harts' cooperative approach in providing timely and useful information and access to company records and procedures.

"If individuals whose information was affected are unhappy with the solutions proposed by Harts they should contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (1300 363 992) to discuss the possible lodgement of a complaint.

"This unfortunate disclosure of personal information provides a timely warning to organisations that privacy issues are crucial to good business, good customer relations and good standing in the marketplace.

"As of 21 December 2001, many more private sector organisations will be required to meet new standards in their handling of personal information as a result of the extension of the Privacy Act to cover the private sector.

"This incident shows privacy is important to the community. People will not do business with organisations that can't provide appropriate protection for personal information," said Mr Pilgrim.