Chair’s Report to the AGM, by Anna Johnston

This is my second and final annual report as Chair of the APF.

I have really enjoyed being Chair – it is plenty of work (!) but also plenty of variety, especially in the range of topics we deal with, and media enquiries we receive. (Although I think Nigel wins this year’s prize for most obscure media enquiry which was something about a talking Boonie doll … ).

So it is certainly with some sadness I am relinquishing this role, but I am doing so for two reasons: first, I said at the beginning that I would commit to 2 years while my business was in development mode and I could spare a fair amount of time to do the role justice, and second, because I think our “No ID Card” campaign, to be launched in early 2007, needs some more focussed attention.

I would like to pay tribute to the enormous amount of work done by both our Board members and other members of the APF, working on various projects throughout 2006. For an all-volunteer organisation we produce an amazing volume of material!

This report cannot do justice to all of the work done in the past year, so I wish only to highlight some projects by way of illustration.

Policy work – submissions and campaigns

By my count the Privacy Foundation has in 2006 so far written 33 letters and submissions, on topics including:

• telecommunications privacy (use of the IPND database, do-not-call register, calling number display, telemarketing, charging for silent numbers, etc)
• financial privacy (our SWIFT complaint, taxation security, and the anti-money laundering bill)
• surveillance and security matters (anti-terrorism laws, security laws review, etc)
• amendments to the Privacy Act 1988 (emergencies bill, genetic/health bill), and of course
• the so-called Access Card!

This count doesn’t do justice to many other types of policy work done ‘behind the scenes’ – such as sitting on consultative committees, speaking at other NGO forums, and several appearances before Senate and similar committees.

Nigel’s regular Policy Reports detail the vast amount of work done on so many fronts during 2006 – so much of it by Nigel himself, but plenty of input from other members too. However particular thanks to Nigel for both his input and his co-ordination role.

Media & education

I believe 2006 has yet again demonstrated a growing awareness about privacy issues, and growing media interest.

Media work has become so voluminous that the media reports prepared for each Board meeting – which just lists each media interview or mention – now runs over two pages. We’ve even had coverage from the US, UK and Germany this year!

We’ve also produced 15 media releases / published articles and letters, including one op-ed in the Sydney Morning Herald (on e-health), and another in APO Online (on the Access Card).

Being receptive to requests for media interviews, and cultivating on-going relationships with a few key journos, has proven an invaluable way for us to get our message out cheaply. (David has become the privacy pin-up boy at Today Tonight, and I have a so-far-unbroken success rate in getting letters to the Financial Review published.) This has been more effective than our media releases can hope to be without throwing serious money at commercial services which distribute media releases to all outlets.

In 2006 we finalised a position on public speaking arrangements including fees for the APF, and this has assisted to both raise our profile and generate some modest revenue! Jan and I made various speeches and presentations during the year.

Particular thanks to Roger and David for their continued work on the website (in particular, responding to my many many emails asking them to “just add this one more thing for me … ASAP”), and to David for stepping in as next in line to take media calls whenever I have been unavailable.

Membership and keeping things ticking along

Particular thanks to Lindy for the usually-thankless task of co-ordinating our meeting agendas and minutes, and looking after communications with our members.

And thanks to Jan for her efforts as newbie Treasurer – I think we have benefited from her enthusiasm for finding us the best banking deal!

Lindy, Jan and Catherine have started the ball rolling on some fresh ideas for membership (both getting new members, and better servicing our members), and I would encourage the Board to ensure that effort does not go to waste.

There are so many more things I would like to have achieved during my time as Chair, and membership is a key area. If only there were about 28 hours in the day, a lot more of our “to do” lists would be cleared up!

Farewell

It has been a pleasure to serve as Chair of such a dedicated group of volunteer Board members. Thank you to both the Board and all APF members for their passion, enthusiasm and hard work.

I wish my successor (whoever they may be) all the best – and I will happily do a handover before I disappear overseas on hols.

All the best to everyone for a happy and safe holiday season – see you in 2007 wearing my new “No ID Card” campaign director hat!

Anna Johnston