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From 12 March 2013 content is no longer being added to, or amended, on this site, consequently some information may be out of date.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

For the media

The OAIC media page is now at: http://www.oaic.gov.au/news/media.html

In relation to privacy matters specifically the OAIC is able to assist media with comment and background information on privacy issues. Please note however that we are not able to comment on investigations of privacy breaches that we undertake.

For all media enquiries, please contact 0407 663 968 or media@oaic.gov.au

Media releases

For current media releases see: http://www.oaic.gov.au/news/media.html#media_releases

To receive media releases by email and other news from the OAIC subscribe here.

For media releases of the former Office of the Privacy Commissioner issued prior to 1 November 2010 see OPC Media Releases

Useful facts about the Privacy Act:

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner is the national privacy regulator.
The Privacy Act regulates the way in which personal information can be collected by organisations and government agencies, the accuracy of the information, how it is kept secure, and how it is used and disclosed, and enforces the rights of individuals to access and correct the information held about them.
The Privacy Act also governs the use of tax file numbers by both individuals and organisations, as well as credit worthiness information held by credit reporting agencies and credit providers.
Those with responsibilities under the Privacy Act include: Australian, ACT and Norfolk Island government agencies, large businesses (with a turnover of more than $3 million), some small businesses in certain circumstances, and all private health service providers. The Privacy Act does not cover State or Northern Territory government agencies, nor the handling by individuals of other people's personal information (except for tax file numbers).
The Privacy Act is not prescriptive legislation: it doesn't tell organisations and government agencies what they must do in each situation. Rather, it offers principles about the way in which personal information should be handled, and each organisation or government agency needs to apply the principles to their own situation.