Privacy Law & Lawyers

Privacy Legislation

The Privacy Act 1988 is the main piece of law pertaining to privacy in Australia. The Privacy Act regulates how your personal information is handled. For example, it covers:

• how your personal information is collected (e.g. the personal information you provide when you fill in a form)
• how it is then used and disclosed
• its accuracy
• how securely it is kept
• your general right to access that information.

If you need legal help regarding privacy law, then please complete your free legal enquiry form on the right, or click here.

The Privacy Act also covers more specific matters, such as:

• the use of your tax file number
• how credit worthiness information about you is handled by credit reporting agencies and credit providers.

Sensitive Information and Privacy Law

There are certain types of personal information that are especially important to your privacy, such as your health or medical information. This information is classed as 'sensitive information' under the Privacy Act. The Act has particular provisions that require that sensitive information be managed with particular care.

How does the Privacy Act work?

The principles contained in the Privacy Act are not prescriptive. That is, they don't tell agencies and organisations what they must do in each situation.

Rather, they offer principles about the way in which personal information should be handled, and each agency or organisation needs to apply those principles to its own situation.

If an agency or organisation breaches the privacy principles, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) may investigate the matter. Individuals can also make a privacy complaint to us about an agency or organisation if they think their information has been mishandled.

If you believe you have a matter which involves privacy law, please complete your free legal enquiry form on the right, or click here, to receive legal help regarding privacy law.

Broadly speaking, privacy lawyers can provide assistance in respect of the following privacy law issues:

• Health
• Credit and finance
• Internet, communications and other technologies
• Direct marketing
• Identity security
• Law enforcement and national security
• Photos and surveillance
• investigations and investigators
• Workplace matters
• Education and child care
• Tenancy and real estate
• Youth matters

If you need legal help regarding privacy law, then please complete your free legal enquiry form on the right, or click here.

Privacy Interference

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)

Please be advised that the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has complaint handling responsibilities under the Privacy Act 1988. Individuals can complain if they believe their privacy has been interfered with by an Australian or ACT government agency, or a private sector organisation covered by the Act. Should you wish to seek legal representation then please complete your free legal enquiry form on the right.

If you need legal help regarding privacy law, then please complete your free legal enquiry form on the right, or click here.

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