7 October 2009

Major Australian companies, not for profit organisations and government agencies have made it onto the list of finalists for this year's Australian Privacy Awards, announced today by the Australian Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis.

"The Awards aim to acknowledge good privacy practices, and it is pleasing to have a large variety of organisations in the running for their achievements in the privacy field," said Ms Curtis.

Among the finalists are FlyBuys, PayPal, NAB, Public Interest Advocacy Centre, Australian Customs, Social Security Appeals Tribunal, Mildura Rural City Council, and the Biometrics Institute (see below for full list).

"Many of the finalists have adopted innovative approaches to compliance and have embedded privacy as a core value in their activities," said Ms Curtis.

"I encourage the community to join us at the presentation dinner to hear about these organisations' privacy initiatives, and to celebrate privacy achievement in all its forms."

The category winners and the overall Grand Award winner will be announced at a gala dinner to be held in Sydney on 12 November 2009.

The dinner will also feature the presentation of the Australian Privacy Medal to an individual who has shown an outstanding level of achievement in the privacy field (last year's winner was the Hon Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG).

The event will include a keynote address by Senator the Hon Joe Ludwig, Special Minister of State and Cabinet Secretary, a three course meal and beverages, musical entertainment, and award-winning journalist Hugh Riminton as the MC.

The Awards are sponsored by Symantec (Major Sponsor), Clayton Utz (Executive Sponsor), Google (Executive Sponsor), Microsoft (Sponsor), and the Child Support Agency (Sponsor).

An invitation to the dinner can be viewed here.

Australian Privacy Awards 2009 - category finalists

Large Business category

• ahm - Australian Health Management
• National Australia Bank
• PayPal

Small-Medium Business category

• Loyalty Pacific (FlyBuys)
• Space-Time Research
• Verify

Community and NGO category

• Association of Market & Social Research Organisations
• Biometrics Institute
• Public Interest Advocacy Centre
• Windermere Child & Family Services

Symantec Government category

• Australian Customs & Border Protection Service
• CrimTrac
• Human Services Portfolio
• Mildura Rural City Council
• Social Security Appeals Tribunal
• VIC Department of Justice