Office of the Privacy Commissioner
OPC · Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner
1 July 2000 – 1 November 2010
Office of the federal Privacy Commissioner, which regulated the handling of personal information by Commonwealth agencies and, from 2001, most private sector organisations under the Privacy Act 1988.
How it came into existence
Became a separate statutory agency on 1 July 2000 under the Privacy Amendment (Office of the Privacy Commissioner) Act 2000, which moved the Privacy Commissioner and staff out of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, where the role had sat since the Privacy Act commenced on 1 January 1989.
- Privacy regulation under the Privacy Act 1988
Legislation: Privacy Act 1988
Changes during its life
- 21 December 2001Private sector provisions of the Privacy Act commenced, extending the office's regulatory role to most private sector organisations.
How it ended
Integrated into the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner on 1 November 2010, when the Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010 commenced; the Privacy Commissioner became one of the new office's three commissioners.
- Privacy regulation under the Privacy Act 1988
Main functions
- Investigation of privacy complaints
- Regulation of personal information handling by agencies
- Private sector privacy regulation (from 2001)
- Credit reporting and tax file number oversight
- Privacy guidance and education
Where it sits
Last in the portfolio of Attorney-General's Department.
Lineage
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