Office of the Privacy Commissioner

Improper disclosure leads to ostracism, death Sam Williams
21 February 2019 at 14:51

The Human Rights Review Tribunal recently found that the Parole Board breached the Privacy Act when it disclosed an offender’s parole address, with tragic consequences.

Human Rights Review Tribunal, information sharing, IPP11 - disclosure, law enforcement, breach

Back to school FAQs Charles Mabbett
13 February 2019 at 16:26

As schools and students begin another busy academic year, we often receive enquiries from teachers and other school staff about what they can and can't do with student information. So we've bundled some of these questions and the answers together in the FAQs below. If you are a school teacher or principal reading this, we hope they are a help to you.

education, children, IPP11 - disclosure

Prisoner loses claim that his letters were unfairly withheld Charles Mabbett
12 December 2018 at 11:28

The Human Rights Review Tribunal has dismissed a claim by a prisoner that the Department of Corrections interfered with his privacy by withholding his outgoing prison mail.

Human Rights Review Tribunal, law enforcement

Using genealogy to solve crime Charles Mabbett
27 September 2018 at 10:59

Police in some overseas countries have begun using genealogical websites to solve crime. But are Police here using similar techniques to identify crime suspects? The answer is no.

law enforcement, health

When can you withhold sensitive employment information? Ophelia Waite
22 August 2018 at 16:52

When a person makes a request for personal information, the agency responding to the request is entitled to withhold the information, if one of the exceptions to principle 6 of the Privacy Act applies.

employment, IPP6 - access, IPP11 - disclosure

Make requested information understandable, says Tribunal Charles Mabbett
7 August 2018 at 16:26

Under the Privacy Act, individuals have a right to get access to their personal information. When an agency receives such a request, a recent decision by the Human Rights Review Tribunal shows the agency, where possible, must provide the information in a way that is meaningful and understandable to the requester.

IPP6 - access, Human Rights Review Tribunal

Photographing girls on beach not indecent - Supreme Court Ophelia Waite
24 July 2018 at 16:26

In this decision, the Supreme Court clarified the law relating to sections 125 and 126 of the Crimes Act 1961, relating to indecent acts.

children, law enforcement, legal

Privacy beyond the grave Richard Stephen
24 July 2018 at 08:51

Generally the Privacy Act doesn’t apply to deceased people. This is because the Privacy Act protects the rights of “individuals”, and section 2 of the Act defines an individual as a “natural person, other than a deceased person”.

complaints, health, Health Information Privacy Code

Improper disclosure leads to ostracism, death Sam Williams 21 February 2019 at 14:51

Back to school FAQs Charles Mabbett 13 February 2019 at 16:26

Prisoner loses claim that his letters were unfairly withheld Charles Mabbett 12 December 2018 at 11:28

Using genealogy to solve crime Charles Mabbett 27 September 2018 at 10:59

When can you withhold sensitive employment information? Ophelia Waite 22 August 2018 at 16:52

Make requested information understandable, says Tribunal Charles Mabbett 7 August 2018 at 16:26

Photographing girls on beach not indecent - Supreme Court Ophelia Waite 24 July 2018 at 16:26

Privacy beyond the grave Richard Stephen 24 July 2018 at 08:51

Improper disclosure leads to ostracism, death Sam Williams
21 February 2019 at 14:51

Back to school FAQs Charles Mabbett
13 February 2019 at 16:26

Prisoner loses claim that his letters were unfairly withheld Charles Mabbett
12 December 2018 at 11:28

Using genealogy to solve crime Charles Mabbett
27 September 2018 at 10:59

When can you withhold sensitive employment information? Ophelia Waite
22 August 2018 at 16:52

Make requested information understandable, says Tribunal Charles Mabbett
7 August 2018 at 16:26

Photographing girls on beach not indecent - Supreme Court Ophelia Waite
24 July 2018 at 16:26

Privacy beyond the grave Richard Stephen
24 July 2018 at 08:51