The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has published its Corporate Plan for 2019-20, revealing a shift in the way it plans to operate and respond to changes in the management of information.
Australian Information Commissioner and Privacy Commissioner, Angelene Falk said the new plan sets out OAIC’s vision for increasing public confidence in the protection of personal information as access to Government-held information continues to expand.
“At a time when many believe institutional trust is in decline, our work to promote and uphold privacy and information access rights is critical to restoring community confidence in information handling and management,” Ms Falk said.
“We are pursuing these goals in a rapidly evolving environment as the value and volume of data held by business and Government continues to grow and global information-handling practices become increasingly complex.”
She said the plan set out four strategic priorities to help the OAIC achieve its vision.
These were to advance online privacy protections for Australians; influence and uphold privacy and information access rights frameworks; encourage and support the proactive release of Government-held information, and a contemporary approach to regulation.
“Key activities for the year ahead include developing a code of practice for digital platforms to provide stronger online protections, including for vulnerable people such as children,” Ms Falk said.
“Enforcing strong privacy safeguards in Australia’s new data portability regime, the Consumer Data Right, will be a significant focus for the OAIC.”
She said the Corporate Plan also detailed the OAIC’s approach to helping Agencies understand their freedom of information obligations and realise the benefits of proactively releasing information.
OAIC’s 36-page Corporate Plan can be accessed at this PS News link.
