Introduction

17.1 In this chapter the ALRC considers how the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) interacts with state and territory privacy laws. A number of examples of inconsistency between the Privacy Act and privacy regimes that regulate state and territory public sectors are first identified. The regulation of personal information handled by intergovernmental bodies is considered and the role of state and territory privacy regulators under nationally consistent privacy laws is outlined. Inconsistency and fragmentation in privacy rules, codes and guidelines are then examined. The final section of the chapter considers the regulation of residential tenancy databases (RTDs).