9 August 2002

Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton has approved the Queensland Club Industry Privacy Code, making it the second private sector privacy code approved in Australia by the Commissioner following an extension of his powers on 21 December 2001.

"The development of the privacy code by Clubs Queensland demonstrates its commitment to privacy," said Mr Crompton.

"The new code includes privacy standards that are at least equivalent to the National Privacy Principles (in the Privacy Act) and in some cases are higher. It has higher standards for notifying members and patrons about their privacy choices, keeping track of how their information is used or disclosed and giving them access to that information.

"It is clear that a lot of time, effort and resources have been put into this code by Clubs Queensland and Deacons," said Mr Crompton. "I look forward to watching how this code develops."

The Queensland Club Industry Privacy Code was submitted for approval by Clubs Queensland on 12 December 2001 and takes effect on 23 August 2002. The Privacy Commissioner remains the complaint handler for the code while Clubs Queensland will be the code administrator.

The Privacy Act establishes a framework in which organisations, or groups of organisations, are able to develop their own privacy code for the handling of personal information. This 'co-regulatory' component in the legislation is designed to allow for flexibility in an organisation's approach to privacy but, at the same time, guarantees consumers that their personal information is subject to minimum standards that are enforceable in law. The Privacy Commissioner may only approve a code if it contains standards that are at least the equivalent overall to the National Privacy Principles and members of the public have been given an adequate opportunity to comment on a draft of the code.

Once a code has been approved organisations can choose to be bound by the Code and it will then replace the National Privacy Principles for those organisations. The Queensland Club Industry Privacy Code is intended to cover the Queensland Club industry.

For more information, or to view the register of code members bound by the code, please contact Clubs Queensland or visit their web site- Clubs Queensland on or after the date of effect, 23 August 2002. There will also be a link to the Clubs Queensland website from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner's web site and the code will be entered into the Commissioner's register of approved privacy codes on the website.

The Commissioner congratulates Clubs Queensland and Deacons for their efforts in developing the code application and for the approval of the Queensland Club Industry Privacy Code. He will watch with interest this development in the privacy framework for Australians.

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