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From 12 March 2013 content is no longer being added to, or amended, on this site, consequently some information may be out of date.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

Privacy Commissioner to advise DHS on service delivery reform

16 December 2009

The Australian Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis, has announced that her Office will be working with the Department of Human Services (DHS) to help ensure that its service delivery reform incorporates privacy safeguards.

The proposed changes were announced today by the Hon Chris Bowen, Minister for Human Services, and are intended to make it more convenient for Australians to deal with Government.

"I am pleased that the Government is committed to establishing safeguards that give individuals control over their personal information, as part of the provision of ‘citizen-centric' services by Government," said Ms Curtis.

"As the Minister has suggested, it is particularly important to respect individual choices about how their personal information is shared across agencies.

"The early consideration of such safeguards will help to ensure that privacy is a key component in the design of service delivery reforms. Security, choice and control will be crucial to public confidence in the handling of Australians' personal information."