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Privacy Act 1988
No. 119, 1988
In force
Administered by
Attorney-General's Department
Department of the Treasury
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C2025C00378 C103
10 June 2025
-
03 June 2026
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Part I—Preliminary
1 Short title
2 Commencement
2A Objects of this Act
3 Saving of certain State and Territory laws
3A Application of the Criminal Code
4 Act to bind the Crown
5A Extension to external Territories
5B Extra territorial operation of Act
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Part II—Interpretation
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Division 1—General definitions
6 Interpretation
6AA Meaning of responsible person
6A Breach of an Australian Privacy Principle
6B Breach of a registered APP code
6BA Breach of the registered CR code
6C Organisations
6D Small business and small business operators
6DA What is the annual turnover of a business?
6E Small business operator treated as organisation
6EA Small business operators choosing to be treated as organisations
6F State instrumentalities etc. treated as organisations
6FA Meaning of health information
6FB Meaning of health service
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Division 2—Key definitions relating to credit reporting
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Subdivision A—Credit provider
6G Meaning of credit provider
6H Agents of credit providers
6J Securitisation arrangements etc.
6K Acquisition of the rights of a credit provider
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Subdivision B—Other definitions
6L Meaning of access seeker
6M Meaning of credit and amount of credit
6N Meaning of credit information
6P Meaning of credit reporting business
6Q Meaning of default information
6QA Meanings of financial hardship arrangement and financial hardship information
6R Meaning of information request
6S Meaning of new arrangement information
6T Meaning of payment information
6U Meaning of personal insolvency information
6V Meaning of repayment history information
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Division 3—Other matters
7 Acts and practices of agencies, organisations etc.
7A Acts of certain agencies treated as acts of organisation
7B Exempt acts and exempt practices of organisations
7C Political acts and practices are exempt
8 Acts and practices of, and disclosure of information to, staff of agency, organisation etc.
10 Agencies that are taken to hold a record
11 File number recipients
12A Act not to apply in relation to State banking or insurance within that State
12B Severability—additional effect of this Act
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Part III—Information privacy
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Division 1—Interferences with privacy
13 Interferences with privacy
13B Related bodies corporate
13C Change in partnership because of change in partners
13D Overseas act required by foreign law
13E Effect of sections 13B, 13C and 13D
13F Act or practice not covered by section 13 is not an interference with privacy
13G Civil penalty provision for serious interference with privacy of an individual
13H Civil penalty provision for interference with privacy of individuals
13J Alternative orders
13K Civil penalty provision for which infringement notices or compliance notices can be issued
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Division 2—Australian Privacy Principles
14 Australian Privacy Principles
15 APP entities must comply with Australian Privacy Principles
16 Personal, family or household affairs
16A Permitted general situations in relation to the collection, use or disclosure of personal information
16B Permitted health situations in relation to the collection, use or disclosure of health information
16C Acts and practices of overseas recipients of personal information
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Division 4—Tax file number information
17 Rules relating to tax file number information
18 File number recipients to comply with rules
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Part IIIA—Credit reporting
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Division 1—Introduction
19 Guide to this Part
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Division 2—Credit reporting bodies
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Subdivision A—Introduction and application of this Division etc.
20 Guide to this Division
20A Application of this Division and the Australian Privacy Principles to credit reporting bodies
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Subdivision B—Consideration of information privacy
20B Open and transparent management of credit reporting information
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Subdivision C—Collection of credit information
20C Collection of solicited credit information
20D Dealing with unsolicited credit information
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Subdivision D—Dealing with credit reporting information etc.
20E Use or disclosure of credit reporting information
20F Permitted CRB disclosures in relation to individuals
20G Use or disclosure of credit reporting information for the purposes of direct marketing
20H Use or disclosure of pre screening assessments
20J Destruction of pre screening assessment
20K No use or disclosure of credit reporting information during a ban period
20L Adoption of government related identifiers
20M Use or disclosure of credit reporting information that is de identified
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Subdivision E—Integrity of credit reporting information
20N Quality of credit reporting information
20P False or misleading credit reporting information
20Q Security of credit reporting information
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Subdivision F—Access to, and correction of, information
20R Access to credit reporting information
20S Correction of credit reporting information
20T Individual may request the correction of credit information etc.
20U Notice of correction etc. must be given
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Subdivision G—Dealing with credit reporting information after the retention period ends etc.
20V Destruction etc. of credit reporting information after the retention period ends
20W Retention period for credit information—general
20X Retention period for credit information—personal insolvency information
20Y Destruction of credit reporting information in cases of fraud
20Z Dealing with information if there is a pending correction request etc.
20ZA Dealing with information if an Australian law etc. requires it to be retained
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Division 3—Credit providers
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Subdivision A—Introduction and application of this Division
21 Guide to this Division
21A Application of this Division to credit providers
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Subdivision B—Consideration of information privacy
21B Open and transparent management of credit information etc.
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Subdivision C—Dealing with credit information
21C Additional notification requirements for the collection of personal information etc.
21D Disclosure of credit information to a credit reporting body
21E Payment information must be disclosed to a credit reporting body
21EA Financial hardship information must be disclosed
21F Limitation on the disclosure of credit information during a ban period
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Subdivision D—Dealing with credit eligibility information etc.
21G Use or disclosure of credit eligibility information
21H Permitted CP uses in relation to individuals
21J Permitted CP disclosures between credit providers
21K Permitted CP disclosures relating to guarantees etc.
21L Permitted CP disclosures to mortgage insurers
21M Permitted CP disclosures to debt collectors
21N Permitted CP disclosures to other recipients
21NA Disclosures to certain persons and bodies that do not have an Australian link
21P Notification of a refusal of an application for consumer credit
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Subdivision E—Integrity of credit information and credit eligibility information
21Q Quality of credit eligibility information
21R False or misleading credit information or credit eligibility information
21S Security of credit eligibility information
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Subdivision F—Access to, and correction of, information
21T Access to credit eligibility information
21U Correction of credit information or credit eligibility information
21V Individual may request the correction of credit information etc.
21W Notice of correction etc. must be given
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Division 4—Affected information recipients
22 Guide to this Division
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Subdivision A—Consideration of information privacy
22A Open and transparent management of regulated information
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Subdivision B—Dealing with regulated information
22B Additional notification requirements for affected information recipients
22C Use or disclosure of information by mortgage insurers or trade insurers
22D Use or disclosure of information by a related body corporate
22E Use or disclosure of information by credit managers etc.
22F Use or disclosure of information by advisers etc.
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Division 5—Complaints
23 Guide to this Division
23A Individual may complain about a breach of a provision of this Part etc.
23B Dealing with complaints
23C Notification requirements relating to correction complaints
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Division 6—Unauthorised obtaining of credit reporting information etc.
24 Obtaining credit reporting information from a credit reporting body
24A Obtaining credit eligibility information from a credit provider
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Division 7—Court orders
25 Compensation orders
25A Other orders to compensate loss or damage
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Division 8—Review
25B Review of operation of this Part
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Part IIIB—Privacy codes
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Division 1—Introduction
26 Guide to this Part
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Division 2—Registered APP codes
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Subdivision A—Compliance with registered APP codes etc.
26A APP entities to comply with binding registered APP codes
26B What is a registered APP code
26C What is an APP code
26D Extension of Act to exempt acts or practices covered by registered APP codes
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Subdivision B—Development and registration of APP codes
26E Development of APP codes by APP code developers
26F Application for registration of APP codes
26G Development of APP codes by the Commissioner—following a request
26GA Development of APP codes by the Commissioner—at the direction of the Minister
26GB Development of APP codes by the Commissioner—temporary APP codes
26GC Development of APP codes by the Commissioner—Children’s Online Privacy Code
26H Commissioner may register APP codes
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Subdivision C—Variation and removal of registered APP codes
26J Variation of registered APP codes
26K Removal of registered APP codes
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Division 3—Registered CR code
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Subdivision A—Compliance with the registered CR code
26L Entities to comply with the registered CR code if bound by the code
26M What is the registered CR code
26N What is a CR code
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Subdivision B—Development and registration of CR code
26P Development of CR code by CR code developers
26Q Application for registration of CR code
26R Development of CR code by the Commissioner
26S Commissioner may register CR code
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Subdivision C—Variation of the registered CR code
26T Variation of the registered CR code
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Division 4—General matters
26U Codes Register
26V Guidelines relating to codes
26W Review of operation of registered codes
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Part IIIC—Notification of eligible data breaches
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Division 1—Introduction
26WA Guide to this Part
26WB Entity
26WC Deemed holding of information
26WD Exception—notification under the My Health Records Act 2012
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Division 2—Eligible data breach
26WE Eligible data breach
26WF Exception—remedial action
26WG Whether access or disclosure would be likely, or would not be likely, to result in serious harm—relevant matters
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Division 3—Notification of eligible data breaches
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Subdivision A—Suspected eligible data breaches
26WH Assessment of suspected eligible data breach
26WJ Exception—eligible data breaches of other entities
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Subdivision B—General notification obligations
26WK Statement about eligible data breach
26WL Entity must notify eligible data breach
26WM Exception—eligible data breaches of other entities
26WN Exception—enforcement related activities
26WP Exception—inconsistency with secrecy provisions
26WQ Exception—declaration by Commissioner
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Subdivision C—Commissioner may direct entity to notify eligible data breach
26WR Commissioner may direct entity to notify eligible data breach
26WS Exception—enforcement related activities
26WT Exception—inconsistency with secrecy provisions
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Division 4—Commissioner’s powers to obtain information or documents relating to eligible data breaches
26WU Power to obtain information and documents relating to eligible data breaches
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Division 5—Dealing with personal information involved in eligible data breaches
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Subdivision A—Eligible data breach declaration
26X Eligible data breach declaration
26XA When declarations cease to be in force
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Subdivision B—Provisions dealing with the collection, use and disclosure of personal information
26XB Authorisation of collection, use and disclosure of personal information
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Subdivision C—Other matters
26XC Disclosure of information—offence
26XD Division not limited by secrecy provisions
26XE Constitutional basis of this Division
26XF Additional operation of this Division
26XG Interaction with section 12B
26XH Compensation for acquisition of property
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Part IV—Functions of the Information Commissioner
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Division 2—Functions of Commissioner
27 Functions of the Commissioner
28 Guidance related functions of the Commissioner
28A Monitoring related functions of the Commissioner
28B Advice related functions of the Commissioner
29 Commissioner must have due regard to the objects of the Act
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Division 3—Reports and information sharing by Commissioner
30 Reports following investigation of act or practice
31 Report following examination of proposed law
32 Commissioner may report to the Minister if the Commissioner has monitored certain activities etc.
33 Exclusion of certain matters from reports
33A Commissioner may share information with other authorities
33B Commissioner may disclose certain information if in the public interest etc.
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Division 3A—Assessments by, or at the direction of, the Commissioner
33C Commissioner may conduct an assessment relating to the Australian Privacy Principles etc.
33D Commissioner may direct an agency to give a privacy impact assessment
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Division 3B—Public inquiries
33E Inquiries by Commissioner
33F Commissioner may invite submissions
33G Commissioner not bound by the rules of evidence
33H Commissioner’s powers
33J Reporting on public inquiries
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Division 4—Miscellaneous
34 Provisions relating to documents exempt under the Freedom of Information Act 1982
35 Direction where refusal or failure to amend exempt document
35A Commissioner may recognise external dispute resolution schemes
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Part V—Investigations etc.
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Division 1A—Introduction
36A Guide to this Part
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Division 1—Investigation of complaints and investigations on the Commissioner’s initiative
36 Complaints
36B Complaints relating to the data sharing scheme
37 Principal executive of agency
38 Conditions for making a representative complaint
38A Commissioner may determine that a complaint is not to continue as a representative complaint
38B Additional rules applying to the determination of representative complaints
38C Amendment of representative complaints
39 Class member for representative complaint not entitled to lodge individual complaint
40 Investigations
40A Conciliation of complaints
41 Commissioner may or must decide not to investigate etc. in certain circumstances
42 Preliminary inquiries
43 Conduct of investigations
43A Interested party may request a hearing
44 Power to obtain information and documents
45 Power to examine witnesses
46 Directions to persons to attend compulsory conference
47 Conduct of compulsory conference
48 Complainant and certain other persons to be informed of various matters
49 Investigation under section 40 to cease if certain offences may have been committed
49A Investigation under section 40 to cease if civil penalty provision under Personal Property Securities Act 2009 may have been contravened
49B Transfer of complaints from the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security
50 Reference of matters to other authorities
50A Substitution of respondent to complaint
51 Effect of investigation by Auditor General
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Division 2—Determinations following investigation of complaints
52 Determination of the Commissioner
52A Determination—requirement to notify conduct constituting interference with privacy of individual
53 Determination must identify the class members who are to be affected by the determination
53A Notice to be given to outsourcing agency
53B Substituting an agency for a contracted service provider
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Division 3—Enforcement of determinations
54 Application of Division
55 Obligations of organisations and small business operators
55A Proceedings in the Federal Court or Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) to enforce a determination
55B Evidentiary certificate
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Division 4—Review and enforcement of determinations involving Commonwealth agencies
57 Application of Division
58 Obligations of agencies
59 Obligations of principal executive of agency
60 Compensation and expenses
62 Enforcement of determination against an agency
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Division 5—Miscellaneous
63 Legal assistance
64 Commissioner etc. not to be sued
65 Failure to attend etc. before Commissioner
66 Failure to give information etc.
67 Protection from civil actions
70 Certain documents and information not required to be disclosed
70B Application of this Part to former organisations
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Part VI—Public interest determinations and temporary public interest determinations
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Division 1—Public interest determinations
71 Interpretation
72 Power to make, and effect of, determinations
73 Application by APP entity
74 Publication of application etc.
75 Draft determination
76 Conference
77 Conduct of conference
78 Determination of application
79 Making of determination
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Division 2—Temporary public interest determinations
80A Temporary public interest determinations
80B Effect of temporary public interest determination
80D Commissioner may continue to consider application
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Division 3—Register of determinations
80E Register of determinations
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Part VIA—Dealing with personal information in emergencies and disasters
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Division 1—Object and interpretation
80F Object
80G Interpretation
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Division 2—Declaration of emergency
80J Declaration of emergency—events of national significance
80K Declaration of emergency—events outside Australia
80KA Matters covered by declarations
80N When declarations cease to be in force
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Division 3—Provisions dealing with the use and disclosure of personal information
80P Authorisation of collection, use and disclosure of personal information
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Division 4—Other matters
80Q Disclosure of information—offence
80R Operation of Part
80S Severability—additional effect of Part
80T Compensation for acquisition of property—constitutional safety net
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Part VIB—Compliance and enforcement
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Division 1AA—Introduction
80TA Simplified outline of this Part
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Division 1AB—Monitoring powers
80TB Monitoring powers
80TC Modifications of Part 2 of the Regulatory Powers Act
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Division 1AC—Investigation powers
80TD Investigation powers
80TE Modifications of Part 3 of the Regulatory Powers Act
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Division 1—Civil penalties
80U Civil penalty provisions
80UA Powers of court to make other orders
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Division 1A—Infringement notices
80UB Infringement notices
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Division 1B—Compliance notices
80UC Compliance notices
80UD Review of compliance notices
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Division 2—Enforceable undertakings
80V Enforceable undertakings
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Division 3—Injunctions
80W Injunctions
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Part VII—Privacy Advisory Committee
81 Interpretation
82 Establishment and membership
83 Functions
84 Leave of absence
85 Removal and resignation of members
86 Disclosure of interests of members
87 Meetings of Advisory Committee
88 Travel allowance
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Part VIII—Obligations of confidence
89 Obligations of confidence to which Part applies
90 Application of Part
91 Effect of Part on other laws
92 Extension of certain obligations of confidence
93 Relief for breach etc. of certain obligations of confidence
94 Jurisdiction of courts
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Part IX—Miscellaneous
94A Schedule 2
95 Medical research guidelines
95A Guidelines for Australian Privacy Principles about health information
95AA Guidelines for Australian Privacy Principles about genetic information
95B Requirements for Commonwealth contracts
95C Disclosure of certain provisions of Commonwealth contracts
96 Review by the Administrative Review Tribunal
98A Treatment of partnerships
98B Treatment of unincorporated associations
98C Treatment of trusts
99A Conduct of directors, employees and agents
100 Regulations
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Schedule 1—Australian Privacy Principles
Overview of the Australian Privacy Principles
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Part 1—Consideration of personal information privacy
1 Australian Privacy Principle 1—open and transparent management of personal information
2 Australian Privacy Principle 2—anonymity and pseudonymity
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Part 2—Collection of personal information
3 Australian Privacy Principle 3—collection of solicited personal information
4 Australian Privacy Principle 4—dealing with unsolicited personal information
5 Australian Privacy Principle 5—notification of the collection of personal information
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Part 3—Dealing with personal information
6 Australian Privacy Principle 6—use or disclosure of personal information
7 Australian Privacy Principle 7—direct marketing
8 Australian Privacy Principle 8—cross border disclosure of personal information
9 Australian Privacy Principle 9—adoption, use or disclosure of government related identifiers
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Part 4—Integrity of personal information
10 Australian Privacy Principle 10—quality of personal information
11 Australian Privacy Principle 11—security of personal information
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Part 5—Access to, and correction of, personal information
12 Australian Privacy Principle 12—access to personal information
13 Australian Privacy Principle 13—correction of personal information
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Schedule 2—Statutory Tort for Serious Invasions of Privacy
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Part 1—Preliminary
1 Objects of this Schedule
2 Simplified outline of this Schedule
3 Crown to be bound
4 Constitutional basis of this Schedule
5 Additional operation of this Schedule
6 Interpretation
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Part 2—Serious invasions of privacy
7 Cause of action
8 Defences
8A Determination whether exemption applies
9 Injunctions
10 Summary judgment
11 Damages
12 Other remedies
13 The effect of an apology on liability
14 When proceedings must be commenced
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Part 3—Exemptions
15 Journalists etc.
16 Agencies and State and Territory authorities (other than intelligence agencies and law enforcement bodies)
16A Staff members of agencies or State and Territory authorities (other than intelligence agencies and law enforcement bodies)
16B Law enforcement bodies
17 Intelligence agencies
18 Persons under 18
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Part 4—Miscellaneous
19 Single publication rule
20 Deceased persons
21 Saving of other laws and remedies
22 Intervention of Information Commissioner
23 Jurisdiction
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Endnotes
Endnote 1—About the endnotes
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Endnote 4—Amendment history
Endnote 5—Editorial changes
