Legal requirements P.1

Question 1

Briefly summarise the role and scope of the three key laws affecting privacy of
information. (p. 289)

Answer 1

The Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (PDPA) replaced previous legislation and aims to bolster the protection of personal and data held by Victorian Government agencies, including local councils and state contractors.

The Privacy Act 1988 safeguards personal information held by federal government departments, use of Tax File Numbers and people’s credit details.

The Health Records Act 2001, passed by the Victorian Government, safeguards personal medical information in both public and private medical sectors.

Question 2

Why have the three key laws affecting privacy of information been introduced? (p. 289)

Answer 2

These laws regulate the acquisition, handling, and storage of personal information by both government and non-government organizations in response to public concerns about data collection and its use.

Question 3

If you believe that the privacy of your information has been breached by the Australian Taxation Office, to whom can you complain? (p. 289)

Answer 3

You can complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner if
you believe that the Australian Tax Office has breached your privacy.

Question 4

What are the penalties for breaches of the Privacy and Data Protection Act
2014? (p. 289)

Answer 4

Non-compliance carries penalties of up to 3000 penalty units for corporations and 600 penalty units for individuals