21 February 2014

APP Guidelines

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has released Guidelines regarding application of the Australian Privacy Principles.

Those Principles (aka the APP) replace the NPP and IPP that were enshrined in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) prior to the amendment that is effective next month.

The OAIC states that -
These APP guidelines may be updated from time to time, including to take account of changes in the Privacy Act or other legislation, determinations made under s 52 of the Privacy Act and relevant tribunal and court decisions. 
The APPs and the APP guidelines apply from 12 March 2014 and cover both Australian Government agencies and organisations covered by the Privacy Act. These new principles replace the National Privacy Principles (NPPs) and the Information Privacy Principles (IPPs) (except for ACT Government agencies, who will continue to be covered by the IPPs). 
The APP guidelines outline the mandatory requirements of the APPs, how the OAIC will interpret the APPs, and matters we may take into account when exercising functions and powers under the Privacy Act.
The consolidated Guidelines run to some 211 pages.

The OAIC is to be commended for production of the Guidelines and for their release prior to the start date for the amendments.