Australia’s Privacy Commissioners have joined forces to improve cooperation in their work of handling complaints and enforcing privacy laws around Australia.
Through Privacy Authorities Australia (PAA) which was established in 2008 as a forum for the sharing of ideas, resources and knowledge, the privacy authorities has targeted its three main areas of interest.
The first area to be considered is complaint handling in which PAA members are working to improve coordination and engagement between their authorities, with particular focus on reducing friction and complexity for individuals wishing to make privacy complaints that cross jurisdictional boundaries.
The second area involves investigations and enforcement, with members working to improve coordination and offer mutual assistance to one another when handling complaints and enforcing the laws of privacy protection.
Finally, PAA members have agreed to work together to foster closer working relationships between authorities at the officer level, facilitate the sharing of knowledge and to learn from each others’ experiences.
As a guide for its members, PAA endorses principles of cooperation which focus on best outcome for client/complainant; which encourage a collaborative and collegiate working approach; and which engender mutual recognition of jurisdictional independence, individual roles, legislative mandate and responsibilities.
In addition, the PAA says there should be no surprises with each Agency informing the other about its activities.
More information on PAA can be accessed at the Office of the Information Commissioner at this PS News link.
