Your Privacy RightsThis page brings together information on how the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) protects your personal information. Generally, the federal Privacy Act covers the collection, use and disclosure, quality and security of personal information. The federal Privacy Act also gives you rights to access and correct personal information about you. You also have the right to make a complaint if you think your personal information has been mishandled. The eleven Information Privacy Principles in the federal Privacy Act protect your personal information and give you rights in the way Australian and ACT government agencies handle your information. Your Privacy & Government gives you more information. The ten National Privacy Principles in the federal Privacy Act protect your personal information and give you rights in the way private sector organisations, including some small businesses and all private health service providers handle the information. Your Privacy & Organisations gives you more information. Your Privacy & Health gives you more information about health privacy protection in the private sector and your rights. The federal Privacy Act also protects information in other ways, for example, Tax File Numbers and your credit information. The Privacy Commissioner also has special responsibilities in regard to national health, spent convictions, data-matching and telecommunications. Other privacy protection (in the Your privacy & Government section) gives you more information. Generally, the federal Privacy Act does not apply to State or Territory agencies apart from ACT government agencies. For more information about other privacy laws in Australia see: State Privacy Laws. The 10 Steps to Protecting Your Personal Information Guide gives you important information about how you can protect your personal information in a few easy ways. It also provides a broad overview of some of your rights, and about the obligations of organisations and Australian and ACT Government agencies as set out in the Privacy Act |