Office of the Privacy Commissioner | Guidance for Ministers and Government Departments
In the course of their duties, Ministers may be provided with, or request, personal information held by the departments that they’re responsible for. On occasion, Ministers may also wish to disclose personal information received from their departments.
We have written guidance about the disclosure of personal information from government departments to Ministers and disclosure of such personal information by Ministers.
It is intended to help departments and Ministers to negotiate the interface between the requirements of the Privacy Act and the need to share information so Ministers can fulfil their portfolio responsibilities.
This guidance has been prepared by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner in conjunction with the Crown Law Office. The Cabinet Office, the Public Service Commission, and the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives have also been consulted about the contents of the guidance.