Australian Law Reform Commission - Inquiry into the Privacy Act
About the ALRC Privacy InquiryOn 31 January 2006, the ALRC received Terms of Reference from the Australian Attorney-General for an inquiry into the extent to which the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and related laws continue to provide an effective framework for the protection of privacy in Australia. A final report is due to be delivered to the Australian Attorney-General by 30 May 2008 and will be publicly available after its tabling in federal Parliament. More information is available on the ALRC website at: Submissions made by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner in relation to the ALRC InquiryIn February 2007 the Office made a submission to the ALRC Review of Privacy - Issues Paper 31. The "Submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission's Review of Privacy - Issues Paper 31" can be accessed at: In April 2007 the Office made a submission to the ALRC Review of the Privacy - Issues Paper 32 Credit Reporting Provisions. The submission can be accessed at: In December 2007 the Office made a submission to the ALRC Review of Privacy - Discussion Paper 72. The "Submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission's Review of Privacy - Discussion Paper 72" can be accessed at: Media Releases In August 2007 the Office released a list of 'essentials' for privacy law reform in Australian drawn from the above submissions. The media release is available at: The Office has released a number of other media releases relating to the ALRC Review. See:
Other Law Reform Commission Privacy InquiriesThe NSW Law Reform Commission is currently conducting a privacy inquiry. Its consultation paper titled 'Invasion of Privacy' which discusses a statutory cause of action for invasions of privacy can be accessed at: The New Zealand Law Commission is also currently conducting a privacy inquiry. Information about the inquiry can be accessed at: The Victorian Law Reform Commission is currently undertaking the second phase of its privacy reference. This phase is on surveillance in public places. More information can be accessed at: The British Columbia Law Institute (Canada) is currently reviewing the Privacy Act of British Columbia (which creates a statutory tort of violation of privacy) and has released a consultation paper which can be accessed at: The South African Law Reform Commission has a current project on privacy and data protection. A discussion paper (DP109) was released in 2005. It can be accessed at: The Hong Kong Law Reform Commission has produced a series of reports on aspects of privacy law, the last in 2006. These can be accessed at: Other InformationThe Office of the Privacy Commissioner called for a wider review of privacy laws in Australia in our March 2005 report "Getting in on the Act: The Review of the Private Sector Provisions of the Privacy Act 1988". To view the report go to: |