Released 10:00, 20 February 1998
This document is at http://www.privacy.org.au/Media/MR980220.html
Australians still have no assurance of privacy protection despite the launch of a set of privacy principles today by the Privacy Commissioner.
"The bottom line is that until the principles are given the force of law, a consumer can do nothing but hope for the best when a company or an employer invades their privacy," said the Director of the Privacy Foundation, Tim Dixon.
"The Commissioner has provided a good set of privacy principles. Now that the principles are clear, there is no excuse for the government to delay in implementing privacy legislation.
"The Commissioner is doing the best she can but her hands are tied. Unless the Government gives the watchdog some teeth, it's got no bite."
A year has now passed since the Government broke its election campaign commitment to privacy legislation. During this time many business organisations have supported the push for privacy legislation, including the National Australia Bank, which broke its silence on the issue earlier this month.
"National legislation can protect privacy without putting excessive burdens on businesses, as most of our trading partners have shown."
Almost all developed nations now have comprehensive privacy legislation. Canada, which was in a similar position to Australia, announced this month that it would replace its existing voluntary code with legislation.
"Australia is becoming increasingly isolated in its failure to establish enforceable privacy safeguards. Australian consumers are losing out, and our lack of privacy protection is holding back the development of electronic commerce and the information economy.
"Australian businesses are being disadvantaged by Australia's bad reputation on privacy issues. If the government is serious about assisting our information industries it will establish privacy safeguards that comply with international best practice.
"The Government promised Australians at the last election that they would reform our `hopelessly out of date' privacy laws as a matter of urgency. We simply want to hold them to their word."
For further information, contact:
Tim Dixon, Director, (02) 9231 4949 or 0411 114411, TimDixon
Prof. Graham Greenleaf, (02) 9569 5310 or 9385-2233, Graham Greenleaf
Dr Roger Clarke, (02) 6288 1472 or 6288 6916, Roger.Clarke@anu.edu.au
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Created: 16 April 2001
Last Amended: 16 April 2001
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