Attorney-General Philip Ruddock has released the Government’s
responses to the Privacy Commissioner’s report, Getting in on the Act:
The Review of the Private Sector Provisions in the Privacy Act 1988,
and the Senate Legal and Constitutional References Committee report,
The Real Big Brother: Inquiry into the Privacy Act 1988.

Earlier this year the Attorney-General issued a reference to the Australian Law Reform
Commission to review the extent to which the Privacy Act continues to
provide an effective framework for the protection of privacy in
Australia. The ALRC has now released an Issues Paper. The final report is to be delivered to the Attorney-General by 31 March 2008.

Separately, regulations to ensure the Privacy Act applies to all Residential Tenancy Databases will soon be implemented.

The Attorney-General’s Department is also examining options to harmonise Commonwealth, State and Territory privacy laws.

Privacy Commissioner’s response.