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Committee Secretary

Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills

Parliament House

Canberra ACT 2600

Dear Secretary,

Inquiry into the future direction and role of the Scrutiny of Bills Committee

I welcome the opportunity to provide a submission to this inquiry.

My Office believes that the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Billsplays a valuable role in examining legislation introduced to the Commonwealth Parliament.

My Office believes it would enhance the role of the Committee if the rights and interests that the Committee is required to take into account in its scrutiny role were more specifically outlined.

Without having a specific recommendation as to how that might be achieved, my Office suggests that it should include looking at legislation in terms of its effect on the privacy of individuals including the collection and handling of their personal information.

I note that the Committee addresses these issues on a regular basis, most recently in relation to the Healthcare Identifiers Bill 2010in its 2 ^nd Alert Digest for 2010 and in the 4 ^th Report for 2010.

I commend the Committee for its work which is always a useful resource to my Office when advising or commenting on legislative proposals.

Yours sincerely

Karen Curtis
Australian Privacy Commissioner

6 April 2010