The 8 months since the last Occasional APF Newsletter have seen a great of activity.
The Passing of APF’s Foundation Patron
Sir Zelman Cowen (1919–2011) was a leading legal academic whose ABC Boyer Lecture Series on ‘The Private Man’ in 1969 fired the starting-gun in the fight for privacy protections. He was twice a Vice-Chancellor, a Governor-General, and APF’s first Patron. Further information is on the web-site.
APF’s New Patrons
The Board is delighted to announce that The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG and The Hon. Elizabeth Evatt AC have agreed to become the APF’s new Patrons. Further information on these leading Australians is in the Media Release and on the web-site.
New Advisory Panel Members
During the last 8 months, APF welcomed onto its Advisory Panel Prof. George Williams AO and Natasha Stott Despoja AM. Information about all Advisory Panel members is on the web-site.
25th Anniversary
The APF was formed during the latter stages of the Australia Card campaign 1985-87. The key dates were 7 July in Martin Place; 28 July 1987 in Newtown, Sydney; 16 August 1987 in North Sydney, at an ABC 4 Corners ‘dinner party’ debate; and 31 August 1987, at the Sebel Town House in Kings Cross, Sydney. So APF turns 25 during the current 2 months. More on the beginnings of the APF are on the web-site.
Board Renewal
During the last 6 months, we have been delighted to welcome as new Board-members Dr David Lindsay and Dr Moira Paterson, both of whom are Associate Professors in the Monash University Law Faculty. In addition, Vice-Chair Dr Dan Svantesson was promoted to full Professor. Information about current Board-members is on the web-site.
APF’s New International Committee
Privacy protection in Australia has considerable dependence on developments elsewhere. In addition, a considerable number of Board members are very active internationally, and APF has participated in international debate and made submissions to other countries on multiple occasions. We have accordingly formed an International Committee. Longstanding contributor to privacy protection, Chris Connolly, who is moving to the UK, has agreed to chair it.
The APF’s Committees include not only Board-members, but general members as well. Is there a Committee that you could contribute to?
Policy Work
During the 8 months from November 2011 to June 2012, your Board made about 50 formal contributions to privacy policy. Important among the topics addressed were eHealth records (still), body scanning (still), media privacy, compulsory surveys, Google’s terms of service, maintenance of the electoral roll, substance abuse testing, and the appalling privacy amendment Bill before federal Parliament at the moment. For some time now, the biometrics industry has been using the existence of its Biometrics Code as the thinnest-of-thin veneer of respectability. After several years of submissions by APF, the Privacy Commissioner finally capitulated and revoked the Code.
You can follow the APF’s policy work on the web-site.