On 19 October 2011, the Governor-General approved an amendment to the Administrative Arrangements Order transferring responsibilities for privacy and freedom of information policy from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to the Attorney-General’s Department. The Privacy and Freedom of Information Policy Branch within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has transferred to the Attorney-General’s Department as the Information Law and Policy Branch. Relevant parts of this webpage and its contents will shortly be updated and relocated to the website of the Attorney-General’s Department (www.ag.gov.au).
Privacy
This section outlines the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s responsibilities for privacy policy and management of the Privacy Act 1988 across the Australian Government.
Information about the department’s privacy practices and compliance with the Information Privacy Principles are available on the PM&C Privacy Practices page.
The Privacy & FOI Policy Branch of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet assists the Hon Brendan O'Connor MP, Minister for Privacy and Freedom of Information, to administer the Government's privacy legislation. Prior to December 2007 this legislation was administered by the Information Law Branch of the Attorney-General’s Department.
International Privacy
The Privacy & FOI Policy Branch is closely involved in work to develop consistent international approaches to information privacy protection. Businesses are using the potential of electronic commerce to reap the economic benefits of working across a number of economies. Frequently, personal information is transferred across borders to facilitate the provision of services to customers. Around the world governments have recognised the need for consistent international efforts to protect personal information.
The Privacy & FOI Policy Branch is leading work in APEC to develop an international system that will facilitate the use of cross-border privacy rules by business, with appropriate regulatory oversight, to protect personal information. We are also engaging with similar work being undertaken through the OECD Working Party on Information Security and Privacy.
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