AGY-1738 | Privacy Committee

Full description

The Privacy Committee was constituted under the Privacy Committee Act, 1975 (Act No.37, 1975) (1), which was proclaimed on 2 May 1975 (2). The functions of the Privacy Committee were: (1) to conduct research and collect and collate information in respect of any matter relating to the privacy of persons. (2) if directed by the Minister, make reports and recommendations to the Minister in relation to any matter that concerns the need for or the desirability of legislative or administrative action in the interests of the privacy of persons. (3) to receive and investigate complaints about alleged violations of the privacy of persons and in respect thereof may make reports to complainants. (4) disseminate information and undertake educational work in relation to any matter relating to the privacy of persons. (5) make public statements in relation to any matter relating to the privacy of persons generally. (6) for the purpose of this Act, conduct inquiries and make investigations as it thinks fit (3). The Committee consisted of not less than twelve, or more than fifteen members, one of whom was the Ombudsman, one an executive member and the remainder were appointed by the Governor (4). By 1987 the Committee reported to the Secretary of the Attorney General's Department (5) but by 1990 it reported to the Legislation and Policy Program (6) By 1993 it was a body in the Individual Rights Program (7) and the following year the Human Rights Program. (8) the Committee reamined in this program until its abolition. The Privacy Committee was abolished by the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act, 1998 which was commenced operation on 1 February, 1999 (9). Endnotes:
(1) Privacy Committee Act, 1975
(2) NSW Government Gazette, 2 May, 1975 p.1752
(3) Annual Report for the Privacy Committee for the year ended 30 June 1975 p.3
(4) Privacy Committee Act, 1975 section 5
(5) NSW Attorney Genera's Department report for 1989 p. 7
(6) Report of the Attorney General's Department for the year ended 30 June 1990 p. 16
(7) Report of the Attorney General's Department for the year ended 30 June 1993 p. 15, 37
(8) Report of the Attorney General's Department for the year ended 30 June 1994 p. 10, 29
(9) Privacy and Personal Information Act, 1998 (Act No.133, 1998)