21 Aug 2017
Before an architect starts designing, they need to consider the site. Before a farmer plants a crop, they need to consider the soil.
When you’re developing a new policy or project, you need to consider privacy right from the start.
If you don’t, there’s a chance your project can go wrong.
Privacy is a human right and protected by law. It is also an essential part of creating public trust and confidence in government. People expect government to respect and protect their privacy. So what should you do to make sure privacy is a key part of your new policy or project?
- Understand your agency’s obligations under the Privacy Act.
- Know how your agency’s privacy policy applies to your project or policy proposal.
- Do a Privacy Impact Assessment for all high risk projects to manage any privacy risks.
- Determine whether de-identified information could be used in your project, and if necessary develop a plan to prevent any re-identification in the future.
- You should also consult with all key stakeholders to learn what privacy concerns may exist and to increase transparency.
If you need more information on how you can consider privacy before developing policy or projects, you can contact your agency’s privacy officer, or the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner to learn more.
