Privacy Awareness Week 2021 kicked off on Monday (3 May) with Government Agencies encouraged to get involved and help make privacy a priority.
Privacy Commissioner Samantha Gavel said all NSW citizens had the right to their personal information being protected.
“The community expects that NSW Government Agencies will protect their personal information appropriately and good privacy practice by Agencies ensures that citizens can have trust in Government services,” Commissioner Gavel said.
Signing her name to a joint statement issued by the Privacy Authorities Australia (PAA) Commissioner Gavel said the Week recognised the essential value of personal information to the economy and digital environment, to the delivery of vital services, and in people’s daily lives.
“For Privacy Awareness Week, privacy authorities from around Australia are joining together to call on Government Agencies, business and the community to Make privacy a priority in 2021 and beyond,” Commissioner Gavel said.
“In our increasingly connected world, securing personal information is critical to protecting privacy, maintaining data flows and preventing harm,” she said.
“Organisations and Agencies entrusted with personal information need to build in privacy protections to their systems and services from the ground up.”
Commissioner Gavel said individuals must also play their part and take steps to protect their personal information, including securing accounts and devices and being aware of what and where they shared information.
“As Privacy Authorities, we will continue to work together to uphold privacy protections and promote awareness of rights and responsibilities,” she said.
The Statement was signed by the members of PAA including Commissioner Gavel; Federal Information Commissioner and Privacy Commissioner, Angelene Falk; the Victorian Information Commissioner, Sven Bluemmel; Queensland Privacy Commissioner, Philip Green; Director of State Records at the Privacy Committee of South Australia, Simon Froude; Queensland Information Commissioner, Rachael Rangihaeata; Tasmanian Ombudsman, Richard Connock; and Northern Territory Information Commissioner, Peter Shoyer.
Further information on Privacy Awareness Week can be accessed at this PS News link.
