Contributor

Helen Versey, former Victorian Privacy Commissioner

Overview

The right to personal privacy is limited. Information privacy was first protected by Commonwealth legislation, but it has expanded and now also includes state legislation. The Australian Privacy Principles set out broad principles that are binding on government agencies and large companies. Specific laws cover credit reporting and some other Commonwealth legislation. Complaints can be made to the Australian Information Commissioner. Victorian privacy legislation includes the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic) and the Human Rights and Responsibilities Charter.

This section includes the following topics:

• The right to privacy
• Privacy protection in Australia: the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) and common law
• Commonwealth privacy legislation: Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)
• Summary of the Australian Privacy Principles
• Privacy and credit reporting
• Privacy protection in Australia: other Commonwealth legislation and guidelines
• Complaints to the Information Commissioner
• Victorian privacy legislation: Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic)
• Victorian Information Commissioner and PDP Deputy Commissioner
• Victorian Information Privacy Principles
• Complaints to the Victorian Information Commissioner
• Other Victorian privacy laws
• Other Victorian legislation related to privacy
• Privacy legislation in other jurisdictions
• Contacts

 

A PDF of this chapter from The Law Handbook 2020 can be purchased for only $5.50. To purchase, visit the Fitzroy Legal Service online store.