9 May 2013, 08:55

The Credit Reporting Privacy Code rules about the use and disclosure of credit information about serious threats are being changed, to reflect a recent Privacy Act amendment.

“The changes mean that credit providers can now feel more confident about whether to release information.  They can look at how serious a threat is, how likely it is to occur and how soon it might happen, before deciding to disclose to someone who can help prevent it,” Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff said.

This amendment brings the code’s rules into line with amended principles in the Privacy Act. The use and disclosure of credit information will now be permitted where necessary to prevent or lessen a “serious threat” to public health, public safety or the life or health of an individual.

Amendment No 8 to the Credit Reporting Privacy Code 2004 was issued on 7 May 2013 and comes into effect on 30 June 2013.

ENDS

Notes for editors:

Serious threat, for the purposes of principle 10(d) or 11(f), means a threat that an agency reasonably believes to be a serious threat having regard to all of the following:

(a) the likelihood of the threat being realised; and

(b) the severity of the consequences if the threat is realised; and

(c) the time at which the threat may be realised.

For further information contact: Annabel Fordham  021 509 735.

See Credit Reporting : the law