20/8/04

The Federal Privacy Commissioner Karen Curtis has today released details of the consultation process for the recently announced review of the private sector provisions of the Privacy Act. This will involve the release of an issues paper and a two month period of consultation including the opportunity for people to make submissions before a report is finalised by the 31 March 2005.

The Commissioner proposes to release the issues paper in early October 2004. The short paper will provide a framework for stakeholders to give their views on how the private sector provisions of the Privacy Act are working.

Stakeholders will have a two month period to study the issues paper and respond to it, with a closing date for submissions at the end of November. This will allow the Office adequate time to consider in detail the issues raised during the consultation process.

During the consultation period and at other times the Office will conduct a number of meetings with key stakeholders including consumer and privacy advocacy groups, business representatives and members of the private health sector.

To assist in carrying out the review, the Commissioner has convened a steering committee whose membership includes existing members of the Privacy Advisory Committee and three others. The steering committee members are:

• Charles Britton, Senior Policy Officer, Information Technology and Communications, Australian Consumers' Association;
• Peter Coroneos, Chief Executive Officer, Internet Industry Association;
• Ian Gilbert, Director of Retail Regulatory Policy, Australian Bankers' Association;
• Graeme Innes, Deputy Discrimination Commissioner, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission;
• John O'Brien, Senior Lecturer in Industrial Relations and Organisational Behaviour, University of New South Wales; and
• Joan Sheedy, Assistant Secretary, Information Law Branch, Attorney General's Department.

"I would like to thank the members of the steering committee for agreeing to assist with the review process and I encourage all interested people and organisations to make submissions to let the Office know how they think the private sector provisions have been operating since December 2001" said Federal Privacy Commissioner Karen Curtis.

For the terms of reference for the review and related information see http://www.privacy.gov.au/materials/types/media/view/6183

Media contact: 0418 212 650.