Please note Mac OS X and Safari users: For Mac OS X, the default browser is Safari. If you experience problems accessing forms and documents on Lawlink websites using Safari as your Web browser, you may need to use an alternative browser, see the Machintosh Products Guide for more information.

16 July 2010	Privacy NSW re-located to new premises on 10 May 2010. Whilst the old general enquires and facsimile numbers will continue to operate until 30/6/2011 the new numbers are as follows: Phone Inquiries: (02) 8019 1600 Faxes: (02) 8114 3755 All mail should be addressed to Privacy NSW GPO Box 7011 Sydney NSW 2001 Calls and faxes on the old numbers: (p) 8688 8585 (f) 8688 9660 will continue to work until 30/6/2011 at which time the redirection service will cease. E mail inquires: privacy_nsw@agd.nsw.gov.au Website: www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au Please do not send mail to the street address (level 11 No 1 Castlereagh Street Sydney NSW 2000) Kind regards John McAteer A / NSW Privacy Commissioner
8 July 2010	Judge K V Taylor A.M., R.F.D. was appointed as NSW Privacy Commissioner in January 2008 for a 5 year term. Judge Taylor has been on leave since 5 November 2009. On 12 April 2010 the Attorney General accepted the Judge's resignation as NSW Privacy Commissioner. The position continues to be filled on an acting basis. Judge Taylor remains a Judge of the District Court of New South Wales.
8 July 2010	PPIP Act On-line Training Program The PPIP Act on-line training program is now available on-line. State and Local government agencies who wish to access the program are advised to contact Privacy NSW. The on-line program is interactive and designed to promote a greater understanding and awareness of privacy issues. The training program features the 12 Personal Information Protection Principles and a quiz at the end of the program. The program also includes separate training modules for Local Government and State Government employees. The program has been upgraded to a new platform offering significant improvements in both functionality and reliability. Government employees who which to undertake the training should e-mail Privacy NSW at: privacy_nsw@agd.nsw.gov.au John McAteer Acting NSW Privacy Commissioner
1 July 2010	John McAteer has been appointed by the Attorney as Acting Privacy Commissioner from 1 July 2010 to 31 July 2010. John is the Principal Privacy Officer at Privacy NSW holding all the delegated functions of the Privacy Commissioner.
1 July 2010	The Principal Privacy Officer as delegated Privacy Commissioner has made two new public interest directions relating to Cross Agency Risk Assessment and Management - Domestic and Family Violence (CARAM-DFV) Framework. Directions were made under section 41 of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 and section 62 of the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 respectively. They were signed on 30 June 2010 and have effect for a period of 12 months.
11 June 2010	The Privacy Code of Practice (General) 2003 made under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (PPIPA) has recently been amended and now includes a Part 8 about Domestic Violence Intervention Court Model (DVICM). Similarly, The Health Privacy Code of Practice 2005 made under the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (HRIPA) has also been amended and now includes a Part 3 relating to the DVICM. The amendmends make respective provisions with respect to the collection, use or disclosure of, or any dealings with, personal and health information about a person who has been involved in a domestic violence offence dealt with by Campbelltown, Macquarie Fields or Wagga Wagga Local Area Command of the NSW Police or before the Local Court at Campbelltown, Junee, Temora or Wagga Wagga. Read more about the PPIPA codes of practice here and about the HRIPA codes of practice here.
9 Jun 2010	PPIP Act On-line Training Program The PPIP ACt on-line training program is currently unavailable due to technical problems. The program is being repaired and upgraded to suit more recent web browsers and is expected to be available at the end of June.
8 Jun 2010	The initial problems we experienced with the main line (02) 8688 8585 for Privacy NSW appear to have been corrected. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Principal Privacy Officer John McAteer Privacy NSW
24 May 2010	As you are aware Privacy NSW has relocated to 1 Castlereagh Street, Sydney as of 10 May 2010. We are currently experiencing some difficulty with our phone lines. If you are unable to leave a voice message on the telephone number you have dialed, please either fax Privacy NSW on (02) 8688 9660 or send and email: privacy_nsw@agd.nsw.gov.au The main line for Privacy NSW (02) 8688 8585 appears to be unaffected at this time. We apologise for any inconvenience. Principal Privacy Officer John McAteer Privacy NSW
6 May 2010	As part of the Government's reforms to access and handling of government information both Privacy NSW and the New Office of the Information Commissioner are to be collocated. From Monday 10 May 2010, Privacy NSW will be in the Sydney CBD collocated with the newly established Office of the Information Commissioner. Privacy NSW's new Office is at Level 11, No 1 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW Postal mail can be sent to: Privacy NSW, GPO Box 7011, Sydney NSW 2001 A new telephone and fax number will be available and operational sometime prior to 15 May 2010. In the interim we can be contacted on (ph) 8688 8585 and (fax) 8688 9660. Email: privacy_nsw@agd.nsw.gov.au and Internet: www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/privacynsw
29 Apr 2010	Privacy Awareness Week (PAW) 2010 runs from 2 – 8 May. It is an opportunity for agencies to raise awareness about the importance of privacy obligations of staff within the workplace, and to educate individuals about how to better protect their privacy including 'privacy security'. This year’s focus is “Keeping your identity safe”, and is directed at all individuals. From Monday 3 May 2010 there will be a self testing 'on-line' toolkit available which people can use at their leisure. The Toolkit contains specific personal privacy risk areas such as: wallets, on-line shopping and credit card safety. You receive an assessment on completion of the test and your risk of identity theft. The toolkit will be accessible from a link on this website. With the Media currently highlighting internet scams, card skimming and hoax emails etc, the toolkit provides tips on how to keep your personal information safe. Privacy Awareness Week is a joint Asia Pacific Privacy Authority (APPA) initiative. I will be launching Privacy Awareness Week within New South Wales at 9.30am Monday 3 May 2010, agencies are invited to contact us for hardcopy resources and other information, promoting and fostering Privacy Awareness Week. Principal Privacy Officer John McAteer Privacy NSW
20 Apr 2010	Judge Taylor the NSW Privacy Commissioner remains on leave and Maureen Tangney's acting term has been extended by the Attorney General. Ms Tangney is Acting Privacy Commissioner up until 30 June 2010.
23 March 2010	Final two New South Wales Law Reform Commission Privacy reports tabled On 18 March 2010 the Attorney General recently tabled two Law Reform Commission (LRC) reports in Parliament. The reports have direct impact on the administration and oversight of privacy law in New South Wales. The Offices of the Information and Privacy Commissioners report recommends that the Information Commissioner lead a single commission that would oversight privacy legislation as well as the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. This commission would contain a privacy division headed by the Privacy Commissioner, who would also serve as a deputy Information Commissioner. 18 recommendations are made in the report, addressing the institutional structure and powers of the Privacy Commission and the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC). The LRC considered a number of models from both around Australia and overseas for integrating the Offices of the Privacy and Information Commissioner. The Access to Personal Information report includes 17 recommendations dealing with access to personal information under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 and the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act). The report considers in detail the relationship between the two Acts. Its recommendations are intended to ensure that they operate as a seamless code. The Attorney General has indicated that he will consult widely and publicly, and with the incoming Information Commissioner, before responding to the LRC’s recommendations and introducing legislation to deal with the key recommendations later this year.
26 Feb 2010	Privacy Awareness Week this year will be held 2-8 May 2010. It is an opportunity for agencies to raise awareness about the importance of privacy obligations of staff within the workplace, and to educate individuals about how to better protect their privacy including 'privacy security'. This year’s focus will be “Keeping your identity safe”, we will have a self testing 'on-line' toolkit available which people can use at their leisure. The Toolkit contains specific personal privacy risk areas such as: wallets, on-line shopping and credit card safety. You receive an assessment on completion of the test and your risk of identity theft. With the Media currently highlighting internet scams, card skimming and hoax emails etc, the toolkit provides tips on how to keep your personal information safe. Privacy Awareness Week is a joint Asia Pacific Privacy Authority (APPA) initiative. Watch this space for updated details of activities as Privacy Awareness Week approaches.
19 Jan 2010	The Privacy Code of Practice (General) 2003 made under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 has recently been amended and now includes a Part 7 relating to the Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages (BDM). This Part makes provision with respect to the collection, use and disclosure of certain personal information by the BDM in connection with the National Document Verification Service (managed by the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department) and the Certification Validation Service (operated by the Registry on behalf of the Council of Australasian Registrars of Births, Deaths and Marriages). Read more about codes of practice here.
24 Dec 2009	Privacy NSW will be closed from 25 December 2009 to 10 January 2010 inclusive. If you believe that there has been a breach of your privacy and would like advice, or wish to make a privacy complaint, you may write to Privacy NSW, Locked Bag 5111, Parramatta NSW 2124 where your matter will be acknowledged and assessed for further action after 10 January 2010. If the matter is urgent, you could contact the agency directly. You can also make a complaint to us by post. There is a time limit on making privacy complaints of six months from the breach of privacy. All complaints, enquiries and requests will be acknowledged after 10 January 2010 on a priority basis. You may wish to examine this website for information (including whether the office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner can address your matter)
24 Dec 2009	The Acting Privacy Commissioner has re-made 8 public interest directions under section 41 of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998. Public interest directions allow NSW public sector agencies to deal with personal information in a manner which, in other circumstances might breach the Information Protection Principles. The Privacy Commissioner will only make such directions where he or she is satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so.
1 Dec 2009	Our 2008 - 09 Annual Report has been tabled in Parliament and is now available on our website. To view the Report, please click here or go to the Publications and Links page on this website
13 Nov 2009	Judge Taylor the NSW Privacy Commissioner is currently on leave and Maureen Tangney has been appointed by the Attorney General as Acting Privacy Commissioner until his return. Ms Tangney is an Assistant Director General in the Department of Justice and Attorney General and has had previous appointments as Acting NSW Privacy Commissioner.
20 Oct 2009	As you are aware, Judge Ken Taylor is currently acting in the position of NSW Information Commissioner leading the establishment of the new Office of the Information Commissioner. This is in addition to his role as the NSW Privacy Commissioner. To allow increased focus on the development of the new Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC), which is due to commence operation in early 2010, Judge Taylor has delegated certain of his responsibilities under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act (1998) to a newly established position of Principal Privacy Officer. We are pleased to announce that Victims Compensation Tribunal Registrar, John McAteer has been appointed to act in the role of Principal Privacy Officer within Privacy NSW, taking on interim business centre management responsibility. John is a highly skilled officer who will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role. John commenced work in the position on Monday 12 October 2009.
9 Sep 2009	On 14 October 2009, Judge Taylor, NSW Privacy Commissioner and Acting NSW Information Commissioner, will be speaking alongside the Australian, Victorian, New Zealand Privacy Commissioners and others at the International Association of Privacy Professionals (Australia and New Zealand) "Privacy Proofing your organisation for NOW and the future” conference to be held in Melbourne. The conference programme will include IT security, privacy and protection in social networking environments, emerging issues in privacy and e-health, identity management and verification and the data management lifecycle. To attend the conference, download the registration form here.
20 Aug 2009	The Privacy Commissioner made the following media release 'Privacy Right of Action will fill a gap'.
9 July 2009	The Privacy Commissioner has renewed a public interest direction under s41 of the PPIP Act relating to the Document Verification Service - NSW Registry of Births Deaths amd Marriages. Under the direction the Registry may deal with personal information in ways which allow it to participate in the Commonwealth Government initiative, the Document Verification Service.
10 June 2009	Agencies are advised to check if their current Privacy Mangement Plans incorporate the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW) to find out more visit Need to Know on our 'Publications and Links' page.

Following the inaugural Australian Privacy Awards the Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner is again hosting a program for 2009. In an effort to recognise and reward good privacy practices, awards are given in four categories - Large Business Award, Small-Medium Business Award, Community and NGO Award and the Symantec Government Award - with an overall Grand Award presented to the most outstanding entrant from Any category. For further information please visit the Federal website.

4 May 2009	Welcome to Privacy Awareness Week (PAW) which begins on Sunday the 3 of May 2009 The focus of this year’s joint campaign with the Asia Pacific Privacy Authority (APPA) has been making everyone - especially young people - aware of the privacy problems surrounding internet use and the uploading of information from it. The catch line is: " Think before you upload. Once it’s out there, it’s everywhere!” A link to the APPA video on young people and video use will become available from this website during Privacy Awareness week (3-9 May) as will other materials that can be used to promote privacy e.g. E handouts. PAW is a great opportunity to remind agencies who deal with personal and health information to be aware of privacy compliance and remember to train staff in the correct use of the information they work with in the workplace.
15 March 2009	We have provided a submission to the New South Wales Law Reform Commission in response to its Consultation Paper 3: Privacy Legislation in NSW. For the most part our submission supports the recommendations regarding the need for nationally consistent privacy law and the measures to restructure the PPIP Act and the HRIP Act.
10 March 2009	Privacy NSW has conducted a client satisfaction survey of public sector agencies to which we have provided advice. The results of the survey from agencies are very encouraging, especially in terms of the satisfaction with the advice, the timeliness, usefulness of our forms and the likelihood of making further requests for advice. The results of the survey revealed that the website is the most commonly used source of information about Privacy NSW's advice function, but telephone is the preferred method of communication. We are also in the process of completing a client satisfaction survey for parties to complaints and internal reviews and will report on the results of that survey in due course.
3 March 2009	In December last year Privacy NSW provided a submission to the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council on the proposed National Registration and Accreditation Scheme for Australian health care professionals. While our submission generally supported the proposed information sharing scheme we recommended that the privacy protections be incorporated into the legislative framework rather than by way of reference to applicable privacy laws.
20 Jan 2009	The Privacy Commissioner has re-made 8 public interest directions under section 41 of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998. Public interests directions allow NSW public sector agencies to deal with personal information in a manner which, in other circumstances might breach the Information Protection Principles. The Privacy Commissioner will only make such directions where he is satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so. The Privacy Commissioner has also made a public interest direction under s41 of the PPIP Act relating to the Document Verification Service-NSW Registry of Births Death and Marriages. Under the direction the Registry may deal with personal information in ways which allow it to participate in the Commonwealth Government initiative, the Document Verification Service.
20 Nov 2008	Privacy NSW has provided its submission to the National Electronic Health Transmission Authority on its Privacy Blueprint for the Individual Electronic Health Record: Shaping the Future of Healthcare
.
29 Sept 2008	Privacy Symposium on 'Meeting privacy challenges: ALRC & NSWLRC Privacy Reviews' - 2 October - UNSW If you are interested in the development of privacy law in Australia you are invited to the 2009 Privacy Symposium: 'Meeting privacy challenges - the ALRC & NSWLRC Privacy Reviews'. Please feel free to bring this invitation to the attention of colleagues. When: Thursday 2 October 2008, 9.30am-4.30pm Where: Faculty of Law, University of New South Wales The Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre at UNSW is holding this one-day Symposium to discuss the Australian Law Reform Commission's Report 108 on Privacy (August 2008), and to take stock of the NSW Law Reform Commission's Consultation Paper 3: Privacy Legislation in New South Wales (July 2008). The Symposium is part of the 'Interpreting Privacy Principles' Project, an Australian Research Council Discovery Project. The theme of the Symposium will be to consider how well the ALRC proposals and draft NSWLRC proposals meet a number of current privacy challenges, including sessions on: * Providing Privacy Principles that set a new global standard and deal with technology threats * Building consumer trust in electronic commerce * Delivering effective enforcement of privacy rules and remedies for breaches * Limiting the growth of a surveillance society * Meeting international standards to facilitate appropriate cross-border data transfers A more detailed program is available at <www.cyberlawcentre.org/2008/privacy/> Key participants (subject to change) include: * Senator John Faulkner, Special Minister of State * Professor David Weisbrot and/or Professor Les McCrimmon, ALRC * Professor Michael Tilbury, NSWLRC * Karen Curtis, Federal Privacy Commissioner * Judge Ken Taylor, NSW Privacy Commissioner * Judge Kevin O'Connor, President NSW ADT, former FPC * Keith Besgrove, First Assistant Secretary, DCITA * Chris Gration, Head of External Relations, Veda Advantage * Robin Banks, CEO, PIAC and member of the Privacy Advisory Committee * Professor Graham Greenleaf, UNSW Law 'Interpreting Privacy Principles' Project * Nigel Waters, UNSW Law 'Interpreting Privacy Principles' Project * chairs from law firms, academia and the professions The event will be structured around panel sessions, with a small number of presentations and an emphasis on dialogue and discussion. Registration: Costs for the event, including catering, documents and GST: * Government, professional and corporate: $495 (call to discuss volume discounts) * Academic: $165 * Full-time student: $55 * NGO representative: free (travel assistance may be available) To join us, please download the Registration form below <http://cyberlawcentre.org/ipp/events/symposium08/rego_form.pdf> and fax back to(02) 9385 1155 or (02) 9385 1175.
2 Sept 2008	A link to the Statutory Review of PPIPA and the Government Response to that Review has been placed on our website. The Review is on the website of NSW Attorney General's Department, Legislation and Policy Division website, the "What's New Archive".
2 Sept 2008	The Comissioner has made revised directions under the PPIP and HRIP Act relating to the Anti-Social Behaviour Pilot Project. The revised directions made minor changes relating to the administration of the Project, add the Health Administration Corproation to Schedule 1 and 2 Local Area Commands (LACs) to Schedule 2 (Port Stephens LAC and Leichhardt LAC). The Lower Hunter LAC has also been removed from Schedule 2.
21 August 2008	The Privacy Commissioner has signed a new section 41 Direction: "Direction relating to requests made by the Ombudsman under s13AA of the Ombudsman Act 1974".
4 August 2008	Our June 2008 Quarterly Report is now available on the website. Click here to view
24 June 2008	Our 2006 - 07 Annual Report is now available on the website.To view the Report, please go to the Publications and Links page on this website.
17 June 2008	Privacy Awareness Week is running from 24 - 30 August 2008. This year the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities (APPA) are running an international privacy competition for secondary school students. To enter, students are encouraged to create and submit a two minute video about privacy and what it means to them. For more information about Privacy Awareness Week go to the website: www.privacyawarenessweek.org
6 May 2008	We have uploaded our March Quarterly Statistical Report on our website. To see this Report, please click here or go to Publication and Links page on this website.
3 April 2008	31 March - 5 April 2008 was Law Week. On 1 April 2008 the NSW Attorney General's Department hosted the Community Open Day at the Parramatta Justice Precinct. Along with a number of other agencies, Privacy NSW had an information stall in the courtyard of the Parramatta Justice Precinct. We met representatives from government organisations (such as NSW Health who are located nearby) and representatives of non-government organisations, community groups and individuals interested in privacy rights and privacy law. As well as Fact Sheets, FAQ's, Guidelines and brochures, we also handed out promotional pens and "Privacy Please" door hangers. The door hangers proved to be particularly popular. The information that we provided is available on our website, on the Publications page. We had over 100 visitors to our stall on the Open Day and received good feedback about the materials and information that we provided. Some of the key concerns of the visitors to our stall were about health privacy and criminal records. People seemed to be concerned not only about their own privacy rights but also the privacy of their colleagues and clients in the work place. Overall, the Open Day was a great opportunity for Privacy NSW to make contact with and disseminate information about Privacy NSW to the broader community. Thank you to our enthusiastic staff for their efforts in organising and manning the stall on the day.