Protecting Information Rights – Advancing Information Policy

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We're now a part of the Office of the Information Commissioner. Go to www.oaic.gov.au to find out more.

Site Changes

On 1 November 2010 the Office of the Privacy Commissioner was integrated into the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). An interim website for the OAIC is available at www.oaic.gov.au. This site (privacy.gov.au), which only contains information related to the OAIC's privacy function, will be maintained until a combined site is established.
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Private sector organisations

Our Office can investigate complaints against private sector organisations, including all private health service providers that are subject to the National Privacy Principles (NPPs).

The NPPs set the standards for the way many private sector organisations and all private health service providers handle personal information.

There are exemptions in the Privacy Act for the media, political parties and for information held in employee records. Information Sheet 12 -2001 Coverage of and Exemptions from the Private Sector Provisions provides more information on those exemptions.

If you think an organisation has breached the NPPs, you can complain to us. But generally, before you do, you need to write to the organisation and try to resolve the problem directly.