Office of the Australian Information Commissioner & NSW Information and Privacy Commissioner
We are experienced in matters concerning the access of information and right to privacy. Contact us for your initial consultation free of charge.
Both the Commonwealth government and the State governments have set up an office that deals with issues concerning access to information held about you by government bodies and issues relating to privacy, including with respect to sensitive information. At federal level, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) is responsible for the investigation of complaints and review of decisions under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) and the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
At state level, each state and territory has its own regulator and legislation but, in NSW, the Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC) deals with investigations and reviews decisions made under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW), also known as GIPA; and the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW).
It is essential for government departments and agencies to hold some information about the citizens and residents of Australia and of each state and territory for the purposes of good government and ensuring essential services for citizens are being met. However, how that information is treated is what the investigations of these commissioners deal with.
If you have a privacy issue or concerns about the security of your personal information, get in touch with our Privacy and Information Lawyers for a free no obligation consultation. Similarly, if you are concerned about your personal security or the security of your identity and personal information, or things such as identity theft get in touch with us for a free consultation about your rights and options.
Apart from issues dealing with personal security and the protection and privacy of sensitive information held by various bodies, it is also possible to challenge government bodies or agencies when you request them to provide you information they hold about you on file and they refuse to release it. For example, it is possible to make a Freedom of Information (FOI) application or a GIPA application to get access to information that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Often government agencies go overboard on the privacy and protection of information that they refuse to release it even to rightful people, including personal information which is about the person making the application. If you need help to access government information, please give us a call for a no obligation free consultation. One of our Privacy and Information Lawyers will be happy to assist.
Disclaimer:
The information above is intended as general information only and should not be relied on. You should discuss your individual situation with a lawyer.
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