12 September 2007

The Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis, has welcomed the release today of the Australian Law Reform Commission's Discussion Paper as part of its review of privacy law in Australia.

''The ALRC review is an important process for ensuring that Australians continue to receive a high level of privacy protection in coming years,'' Ms Curtis said.

Ms Curtis said her office will be assessing the 1,983-page Discussion Paper to see the extent to which it addresses the issues the Office raised in its submissions to the ALRC, and will be commenting on any new issues and proposals that have been raised.

''I note in particular the Paper's broad support for:

• privacy regulation being consistent across all Australian jurisdictions;
• privacy law remaining principles-based;
• the consolidation of privacy principles into one unified set to apply to all agencies and organisations covered by the Privacy Act; and
• the role of the Office in educating individuals, organisations and agencies about the Privacy Act and related issues.''

The ALRC review of privacy law stems from a proposal made by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner in 2005 in its Review of the Private Sector Provisions of the Privacy Act.

''I encourage individuals, business and government to respond to the Discussion Paper by making their views known to the ALRC,'' said Ms Curtis.