Application of the regulations

54.68 The scope of Part IIIA of the Privacy Act is determined, in large part, by definitions of:

  • ‘credit information files’, ‘credit reports’ and ‘reports’;
  • ‘credit reporting agency’; and
  • ‘credit provider’.

54.69 The following part of this chapter discusses issues concerning the scope of the new Privacy (Credit Reporting Information) Regulations, with reference to these existing definitions. The ALRC makes recommendations with regard to equivalent provisions of the new regulations. The finer detail of drafting and decisions about whether the definitions are best placed in the Privacy Act itself or in the regulations are matters for the Australian Government to resolve, with the assistance of the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.