Media Release: Greater consistency required for telecommunications privacy, says Privacy Commissioner

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8 March 2007

The Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis, has called for changes to a number of laws to assist in clarifying privacy requirements in the telecommunications industry. 

"Since the Privacy Act was enacted in 1988, Parliament has passed several different laws which include privacy protections in relation to telecommunications. This has resulted in privacy protections that are sometimes inconsistent," Ms Curtis said.

"Enhanced consistency across the laws would help ensure there are adequate privacy safeguards in the telecommunications industry, reduce complexity for businesses, and assist consumers in understanding their privacy rights." 

In her 474-page submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission's Review of Privacy, Ms Curtis identified a range of issues to address in areas as diverse as health, technology and telecommunications.

Some of the key telecommunications proposals in the submission are: 

Telecommunications Act 1997

• The Telecommunications Act and the Privacy Act should be reviewed to ensure the highest privacy standards always apply.
• The Privacy Commissioner's authority to comment on industry codes should be expanded, particularly in assessing a code's privacy standards.

Telecommunication Amendment (Integrated Public Number Database) Act 2006

• The issue of public number directory products which are produced from data sources other than the IPND should be addressed. 

Privacy Act 1988

• Small telecommunications businesses, such as Carrier Service Providers, Internet Service Providers and Public Number Directory Producers, being made subject to the Privacy Act, as they handle large amounts of personal information.

For further information see www.privacy.gov.au/publications/alrc280207.html 

For media comment, contact 0407 663 968.