The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has welcomed a Privacy Act Review Discussion Paper prepared by the Attorney General’s Department, declaring it presented a sound basis for advancing the case of privacy reform in Australia.
Australian Information Commissioner and Privacy Commissioner, Angelene Falk said the OAIC had made detailed recommendations in response to the Privacy Act Review – Discussion Paper, which drew on the Agency’s regulatory experience about how these potential reforms would operate in practice.
“The OAIC’s recommendations seek to ensure Australia’s privacy regime continues to operate effectively for all and promotes innovation and growth,” Commissioner Falk said.
She said the recommendations covered the protection of consumers from individual and collective privacy risks and harm, while empowering them to take control of their personal information through new rights and enhanced transparency requirements.
Commissioner Falk said the OAIC also saw the need for an enhanced framework of organisational accountability and personal information handling.
She said it also recommended the establishment of a regulatory framework that supported proactive and targeted regulation, strategic enforcement, efficient and more direct avenues of redress for individuals, and appropriate deterrents against mishandling of personal information.
“The shift to the digital economy, while it offers tremendous opportunities, is not without its risks, and requires an upgraded privacy framework that reinforces trust and security in the digital world,” Commissioner Falk said.
“A key theme of our submission is that strengthening accountability measures for organisations handling personal information will help protect and empower consumers while promoting innovation and a thriving digital economy.”
The Commissioner said people’s personal information was increasingly being handled in complex ways that individuals might not expect.
“It is unrealistic to expect individuals to consider and evaluate whether every collection of their personal information is reasonable, and to take steps to protect themselves from all privacy harms,” she said.
“Strengthened accountability requirements will raise the standard of data handling so individuals can have greater confidence that their personal information will be handled fairly when they choose to engage with a product or service,” Commissioner Falk said.
The OAIC’s 229-page Discussion Paper can be accessed at this PS News link.
