The Privacy Act | OAIC We use cookies on this site We use cookies to analyse traffic and to improve your browsing experience on our website. To find out more, read our privacy policy. Close Skip to main content News Join our team Contact us Home Privacy Privacy Your privacy rights Privacy complaints Australian Privacy Principles Privacy guidance for organisations and government agencies Notifiable data breaches Privacy legislation Privacy assessments and decisions Privacy registers Privacy for Kids Freedom of information Freedom of information Your freedom of information rights How to access government information Freedom of information guidance for government agencies Freedom of information legislation and determinations Information Commissioner decisions and reports Freedom of information statistics for the OAIC Australian Government freedom of information statistics Consumer Data Right Consumer Data Right Information for consumers Consumer Data Right complaints Consumer Data Right guidance for business Consumer Data Right legislation, regulation and definitions Consumer Data Right assessments Digital ID Engage with us Engage with us Consultations Submissions Translations Events Networks Research and training resources About the OAIC About the OAIC What we do Who we are Join our team Access our information Our regulatory approach Our corporate information Commissioner Priorities Information policy Serving legal documents on the Australian Information Commissioner News Join our team Contact us Privacy Privacy legislation The Privacy Act The Privacy Act The Privacy Act 1988 was introduced to promote and protect the privacy of individuals and to regulate how Australian Government agencies and organisations with an annual turnover of more than $3 million, and some other organisations, handle personal information. The Privacy Act includes 13 Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), which apply to some private sector organisations, as well as most Australian Government agencies. Such organisations and agencies are collectively known as ‘APP entities’. The Privacy Act also regulates the privacy component of the consumer credit reporting system, tax file numbers, and health and medical research. History of the Privacy Act Changes to the Privacy Act 1988 since it began, in brief Rights and responsibilities Who has rights under the Privacy Act and which organisations and agencies the Privacy Act covers The Australian Government is conducting a review of the Privacy Act, see our submissions to the review (Privacy Act Review Issues Paper submission and Privacy Act Review Discussion Paper submission) and our Research publications on the Privacy Act. Audits and investigations Commissioner-initiated investigations Why we open a Commissioner-initiated investigation and our current investigations Privacy assessment powers We audit privacy practices of APP entities to help ensure personal information is protected Associated codes, regulations, rules and guidelines Credit reporting Consumer credit reporting under the Privacy Act, which is supported by a regulation and code Health and medical research When a health service provider can use or disclose genetic information, and when health and medical research can use personal information Privacy regulations Regulations issued under the Privacy Act Rules and guidelines Legally binding rules and guidelines we've made or approved under the Privacy Act Tax file numbers Privacy (Tax File Number) Rule 2015 and other obligations Did you find this helpful? Yes No We'd love to hear more! Please tell us more Rate your experience We'd love to hear more about your rating What did you come here to do? How can we improve this information? ⨯ Share Facebook Twitter Linkedin Site map Copyright Terms and conditions Privacy policy Accessibility Contact us 1300 363 992 Monday to Thursday 10 am to 4 pm (AEST/AEDT) Language Please select… العربية繁體中文ελληνικόςItalianoEspañolภาษาไทยTiếng Việtਪੰਜਾਬੀကညီကျိာ်简体中文ܐܵܬܘܿܪܵܝܵܐनेपालीFilipinoهزارگیEasy English Follow us Acknowledgement of Country The OAIC acknowledges Traditional Custodians of Country across Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and communities. We pay our respect to First Nations people, cultures and Elders past and present. © Commonwealth of Australia