Privacy

A set of binding privacy standards for the NSW public sector were introduced by the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (PPIP Act). These standards, known as information protection principles, regulate the way public sector agencies collect, use, store and disclose personal information.

The Act requires public sector agencies to prepare a Privacy Management Plan which sets out the policies and practices adopted to ensure compliance with the Act.

The Office of Fair Trading is also bound by the provisions of the  Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (HRIP Act ). This Act governs the handling of health information in both the public and private sectors in NSW. The HRIP Act contains 15 health privacy principles outlining how health information must be collected, stored, used and disclosed.

In addition to the above, the Office of Fair Trading developed a Code of Practice which has been approved by the Attorney General. It modifies the provisions of the PPIP Act in their application to the Office. The Code of Practice authorises non-compliance with the information protection principles where they prevent the Office from carrying out its functions.

The Office of Fair Trading is also covered by the provisions of the Investigation Code of Practice, the Code of Practice for Inter-agency Transfers of Information and the Privacy Code of Practice for the NSW Public Sector Workforce Profile.

You can apply under the PPIP Act for access to any personal information the Office holds about you. You can make a complaint if you believe the Office of Fair Trading has breached a provision of the Act or the Office of Fair Trading’s Code of Practice.

You can view the publications listed below or contact the Freedom of Information Officer on 9338 8979 for copies.