Dear APF Members,
We’re pleased to pass on some details of recent work the APF has been undertaking, as well as changes to our Board and Advisory and Patrons Panel.
Policy Work
The APF has continued its efforts to influence policy decisions relevant to privacy, including robo-goverment and the social welfare system, the Productivity Commission’s proposals re open data, the MyHR scheme, identity and authentication schemes, Veda/Equifax operations, abuses of personal data by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, open banking, law enforcement agencies and IT, and Facebook data releases.
Unfortunately, the submissions from the joint ‘amicus’ interveners NSW CCL and APF were not taken up, the OAIC’s submissions were limited in scope, and the court applied a controversial, very narrow interpretation of ‘personal information’. If generally applied, that would be harmful to privacy.
The future effect may be limited, however, because it related to the old definition, and the post-2012 definition has materal differences.
As always, recent activities are visible on our home-page and at https://www.privacy.org.au/publications/by-date/
Patrons and Advisory Panel News
https://privacy.org.au/about/contacts/advisorypanel/
In the 2018 Australia Day Honours list, Geoffrey Robertson was awarded AO. And we bid a warm welcome to the following new members:
Scott Ludlam
Greens Senator for WA for 9 years, including as a Deputy leader, a policy leader in the areas of telecommunications and Internet freedoms and privacy
Prof Gillian Triggs
Dean of Law at Sydney University 2007-12, a specialist in the implementation of Australia’s human rights obligations, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission 2012-2017.
Board News
Since the AGM in November 2018, the officers have comprised Chair David Vaile, Vice-Chairs Kat Lane, Bruce Arnold and Adam Molnar, and Secretary/Treasurer Mark Walkom.
David Lindsay has taken a Chair in Law at UTS.
The most recent strengthening of the Board has been as follows:
The Web-Site
A new format and layout of APF’s substantial website was launched in mid- 2017 – the first major revision since 2004. Thanks to Technical Ctee Chair, Liam Pomfret, for a well-executed project.
APF’s 30-Year History
APF has celebrated its 30th Anniversary. A review of some highlights of APF’s history is at http://www.rogerclarke.com/DV/APF30.html
As always, we welcome any assistance our members are able to provide in promoting or contributing to the important works we undertake.
Regards, Mark Walkom
Secretary – Australian Privacy Foundation
On behalf of, David Vaile, Chair
Australian Privacy Foundation
We’re pleased to pass on some details of recent work the APF has been undertaking, as well as changes to our Board and Advisory and Patrons Panel.
Policy Work
The APF has continued its efforts to influence policy decisions relevant to privacy, including robo-goverment and the social welfare system, the Productivity Commission’s proposals re open data, the MyHR scheme, identity and authentication schemes, Veda/Equifax operations, abuses of personal data by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, open banking, law enforcement agencies and IT, and Facebook data releases.
Unfortunately, the submissions from the joint ‘amicus’ interveners NSW CCL and APF were not taken up, the OAIC’s submissions were limited in scope, and the court applied a controversial, very narrow interpretation of ‘personal information’. If generally applied, that would be harmful to privacy.
The future effect may be limited, however, because it related to the old definition, and the post-2012 definition has materal differences.
As always, recent activities are visible on our home-page and at https://www.privacy.org.au/publications/by-date/
Patrons and Advisory Panel News
https://privacy.org.au/about/contacts/advisorypanel/
In the 2018 Australia Day Honours list, Geoffrey Robertson was awarded AO. And we bid a warm welcome to the following new members:
Scott Ludlam
Greens Senator for WA for 9 years, including as a Deputy leader, a policy leader in the areas of telecommunications and Internet freedoms and privacy
Prof Gillian Triggs
Dean of Law at Sydney University 2007-12, a specialist in the implementation of Australia’s human rights obligations, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission 2012-2017.
Board News
Since the AGM in November 2018, the officers have comprised Chair David Vaile, Vice-Chairs Kat Lane, Bruce Arnold and Adam Molnar, and Secretary/Treasurer Mark Walkom.
David Lindsay has taken a Chair in Law at UTS.
The most recent strengthening of the Board has been as follows:
- Justin Clacherty (Redfish, Brisbane)
- (Prof) Deborah Lupton (Uni of Canberra)
- (Dr) Elizabeth Cooombs (previously NSW Privacy Commissioner) – Elizabeth has since suspended her membership while she performs assignments with UN Special Rapporteur on Privacy
- Joseph Cannataci
The Web-Site
A new format and layout of APF’s substantial website was launched in mid- 2017 – the first major revision since 2004. Thanks to Technical Ctee Chair, Liam Pomfret, for a well-executed project.
APF’s 30-Year History
APF has celebrated its 30th Anniversary. A review of some highlights of APF’s history is at http://www.rogerclarke.com/DV/APF30.html
As always, we welcome any assistance our members are able to provide in promoting or contributing to the important works we undertake.
Regards, Mark Walkom
Secretary – Australian Privacy Foundation
On behalf of, David Vaile, Chair
Australian Privacy Foundation