13 December 2012

Enhancement

The Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012 (Cth) has received royal assent.

It amends the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) to
  • replace the current privacy principles for the public and private sectors (ie the NPP and IPP) with a single set of privacy principles - the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs)
  •  implement a comprehensive credit reporting systemfeaturing five kinds of personal information, codes of practice under the APPs and a credit reporting code (inc powers for the Privacy Commissioner to develop and register codes that are binding on specified agencies and organisations)
  • clarify the functions and powers of the Information Commissioner 
  • increase the commissioner's ability to resolve complaints, recognise and encourage the use of external dispute resolutions services, conduct investigations and promote compliance with privacy obligations. 
 This Act also makes consequential amendments to 55 Cth statutes, including the
  • Acts Interpretation Act 1901
  • Aged Care Act 1997
  • A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999
  • Anti-Money Laundering And Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006
  •  Auscheck Act 2007
  • Australian Citizenship Act 2007
  •  Australian Curriculum, Assessment And Reporting Authority Act 2008
  • Australian Passports Act 2005
  • Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Act 1998
  • Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
  • Crimes Act 1914
  •  Dairy Produce Act 1986
  • Defence Act 1903
  • Defence Force (Home Loans Assistance) Act 1990
  • Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme Act 2008
  •  Defence Service Homes Act 1918
  • Education Services For Overseas Students Act 2000
  •  Extradition Act 1988
  • Fair Work (Building Industry) Act 2012
  •  Freedom Of Information Act 1982
  •  Healthcare Identifiers Act 2010
  •  Higher Education Support Act 2003
  • Horse Disease Response Levy Collection Act 2011
  • Inspector Of Transport Security Act 2006
  • Migration Act 1958
  • Military Rehabilitation And Compensation Act 2004
  • Mutual Assistance In Criminal Matters Act 1987
  •  National Health Act 1953
  •  National Health Reform Act 2011
  • National Health Security Act 2007
  •  National Vocational Education And Training Regulator Act 2011
  •  Olympic Insignia Protection Act 1987
  •  Ombudsman Act 1976
  • Paid Parental Leave Act 2010
  •  Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records Act 2012
  •  Private Health Insurance Act 2007
  •  Product Stewardship Act 2011
  •  Quarantine Act 1908
  •  Retirement Savings Accounts Act 1997
  • Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
  • Stronger Futures In The Northern Territory Act 2012
  • Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993
  • Supported Accommodation Assistance Act 1994
  • Telecommunications Act 1997
  •  Telecommunications (Consumer Protection And Service Standards) Act 1999
  • Therapeutic Goods Act 1989
  • Trade Marks Act 1995
  • Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986
  • Australian Crime Commission Act 2002
  •  Law Enforcement Integrity Commissioner Act 2006
  • National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009
  •  Taxation Administration Act 1953
  • Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010
  • Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986
  • Data-Matching Program (Assistance And Tax) Act 1990