ALRC to tackle government secrecy laws
The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) welcomed the announcement today by the Commonwealth Attorney-General, the Hon Robert McClelland MP, of new Terms of Reference for the ALRC to review secrecy provisions in federal legislation. The Terms of Reference ask the ALRC to focus on: ‘the importance of balancing the need to protect Commonwealth information and …
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Read moreScrutinising Privacy – ALRC Discussion Paper
Justice Berna Collier, Part-time Commissisoner, Australian Law Reform Commission, QLS Government Lawyers Conference, Brisbane, Thursday 17 April 2008. On 30 January 2006 the then federal Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, referred a review of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) to the Australian Law Reform Commission for inquiry and report. The task of the ALRC was to consider the extent to …
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Read moreReview of Australian Privacy Law (DP 72)
On 12 September 2007 the ALRC released Review of Australian Privacy Law (DP 72), seeking community feedback on 301 proposals for reform of privacy law and related practices. View DP 72 in HTML on the AustLII website.
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Read moreALRC proposes overhaul of ‘complex and costly’ privacy laws
The Australian Law Reform Commission today released a blueprint with 301 proposals for overhauling Australia’s complex and costly privacy laws and practices.Releasing Discussion Paper 72, Review of Australian Privacy Law, ALRC President Prof David Weisbrot said it was the product of the largest public consultation process in ALRC history: “We have received over 300 submissions …
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Read moreALRC proposes a more comprehensive credit reporting regime
The Australian Law Reform Commission has proposed the introduction of a more comprehensive credit reporting regime, in a Discussion Paper released today as part of its major review of Australian privacy law and practice.ALRC President, Professor David Weisbrot, said that the ALRC’s review was the first Australian inquiry to recommend such a change, following extensive …
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Read moreLegal Studies Association, after dinner address
Prof David Weisbrot AM. President, Australian Law Reform Commission, Rydges Hotel, Rosehill, 22 March 2007 Introduction Thank you very much, Tracey, for that generous introduction. I very much enjoyed participating in the Legal Studies Association’s program last March, and I feel especially honoured to have been asked to deliver the After Dinner Address at this …
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Read moreReview of Privacy—Credit Reporting Provisions (IP 32)
ALRC produced this second Issues Paper, IP 32, in December 2006. IP 32 is organised into seven chapters. Chapters 2, 3 and 4 explain the content and current operation of the credit reporting provisions of the Privacy Act. Chapters 5, 6 and 7 focus on aspects of credit reporting that may require reform. These range from minor changes …
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Read moreTimely focus on credit laws
Tuesday, 12 December 2006: As many people rely on credit to help them through the festive season, the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) today launched an Issues Paper calling for public comment on Australia ’s credit reporting system. ALRC President Prof David Weisbrot said the credit reporting provisions of the Commonwealth Privacy Act were overly …
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Read moreReview of Privacy (IP 31)
The ALRC released IP 31 on 9 October 2006, seeking stakeholder feedback on 142 questions. View IP 31 in HTML on the AustLII website.
Publications
Read moreComputers, biometrics and Gen Y: Is privacy passé?
Monday 9 October 2006: Do Australians feel that their privacy is adequately protected? Is it possible for privacy laws to keep up with technology such as data matching, facial recognition and even body odour measurement? Do younger people care as much about privacy as their elders? These are some of the questions being asked by …
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