Campaign for Fair Privacy Laws 1997-99
Last Updated: April 2000
"The right to be let alone is indeed the beginning of all freedom."
Contents
Background
Despite expectations that the Australian Government would deliver on its stated intention of implementing world standard privacy legislation, the Prime Minister announced on 21 March 1997 that the legislation would not proceed, claiming "compliance costs" as the main obstacle.
A coalition of privacy rights, commerce and academic groups mounted a campaign to have this decision reversed. See the October 1997 Invitation to join the Campaign. The campaign went global, to the extent that Privacy International called on European countries to restrict data flows to Australia until privacy legislation was enacted.
On 16th December 1998, the government announced that "light touch" legislation would now be introduced, to support self-regulatory codes. A draft was released in December 1999 and the legislation (Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 (C'th)) was tabled in April 2000, to a chorus of criticism from privacy advocates.
For information about the legislation and developments since April 2000, see separate page.
Privacy Campaign Documents
- EFA response to the draft Victorian Data Protection Bill, February 1999.
- Privacy legislation a big win for consumers - Privacy Campaign Media Release, 16th December 1998.
- Government move on privacy laws welcomed - Australian Privacy Foundation Media Release, 16th December 1998.
- Government to strengthen privacy protection - Government media release, 16th December 1998.
- Submission on behalf of the Campaign for Fair Privacy Laws to the Senate Legal and Constitutional References Committee re Privacy and the Private Sector, July 1998.
- EFA submission to the Senate privacy inquiry, July 1998.
- In Australian battle, privacy advocates won't back away - American Reporter, March 1998.
- National Principles for the Fair Handling of Personal Information - new from the Privacy Commissioner, Feb 1998
- National Principles for the Fair Handling of Personal Information - media release, 20 Feb 1998
- Invitation to join the Campaign Campaign Letter, October 1997.
- Privacy Protection for all - New Legislation makes up for the Government Letdown - an announcement by the Australian Democrats of their intention to table a draft Privacy Amendment Bill which will extend privacy protection to the private sector. August 1997.
- Voluntary Code leaves Privacy Exposed - the Australian Privacy Foundation responds to the Privacy Commissioner's consultation paper. 19th August 1997.
- Information Privacy in Australia - A National Scheme for Fair Information Practices in the Private Sector - a consultation paper released by the Privacy Commissioner on 18th August 1997.
- Privacy in Queensland - a thoughtful Issues Paper seeking input from the public, issued by the Qld. Parliament's Legal, Constitutional, and Administrative Review Committee. The closing date for submissions is 1 August 1997.
- Government Hypocrisy on Privacy Australian Privacy Foundation Press Release, 29 April 1997.
- Fahey denies reports on privacy loss Australian Financial Review 29 April, 1997.
- Fahey moves to ease privacy fears, Sydney Morning Herald, 29 April 1997 - a totally inadequate response from the Finance Minister.
- Push to protect privacy of files - Page One story in the Sydney Morning Herald 28 April, 1997.
- Privacy International page on the Australian campaign.
- The Problem for Business: No Privacy Australian Financial Review, April 17, 1997
- Privacy International experts letter to Prime Minister John Howard, April 16, 1997.
- Government's Backflip on Privacy is not on Democrats' press release on privacy legislation, April 4, 1997
- Privacy campaign media release and backgrounder on the issue, April 3, 1997.
- Prime Minister's Press Release March 21, 1997.
- The Coalition Government's Privacy Policy February 1996.
An interesting contrast between the rhetoric of what was expected and the actuality of what was delivered. - Attorney General's Department Discussion Paper, Privacy Protection in the Private Sector, September 1996.
- EFA's response to the Privacy Discussion Paper November 1996.
- Roger Clarke's review of the discussion paper.
General Privacy Reference Materials
- OECD Privacy Guidelines 1980
- Beyond the OECD Guidelines: Privacy Protection for the 21st Century, Roger Clarke, 2000
- The European Union Directive 95/46/EC On the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data.
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National Principles for the Fair Handling of Personal Information - revised edition, January 1999
Australian Privacy Commissioner - Canadian Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, Bill C-6
- Canadian Privacy Commissioner's page about the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act
- A Guide to Bill C-6 - An outline of Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act as of April 15, 1999 (does not include all amendments) by privacy consultant Murray Long.
- The New Zealand Privacy Act 1993
- UK Data Protection Act 1998
- International Safe Harbor Privacy Principles 2000
- Internet Privacy Survey Report 2000 - Freehill Hollingdale & Page.
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Big Brother Bothers Most Australians - Roy Morgan Research
(Finding No. 3221. Published exclusively in the Bulletin, cover date August 30, 1999) - Communications Privacy in the Digital Age - Center for Democracy and Technology. An excellent overview of the US privacy debate in law and legislature, June 1997.
- Surfer Beware: Personal Privacy and the Internet - an EPIC report on privacy issues for Internet users, June 1997
- Roger Clarke's comprehensive Data Surveillance and Information Privacy page.
- Privacy Law and Policy Reporter's Australian Privacy Guide An extensive guide to Australian privacy resources, legislation and case law.
- A Parable of Privacy - Perry Metzger's clever parody of privacy and cryptography issues.
- The Australian Privacy Commissioner's Office
- Australian Privacy Foundation
- The Australian Privacy Charter
- NSW Privacy Committee
- Victorian Data Protection Advisory Council
- Options for Promoting Privacy on the National Information Infrastructure - Draft for Public Comment from the National Information Infrastructure Task Force, USA. April 1997.
- The Canadian Standards Association Press Release March 1997, on the new Canadian Privacy Model Standard.
- A Summary of the Canadian Standard.
- A Proposed Privacy Code for Asia-Pacific Cyberlaw - Graham Greenleaf.
