Auscheck Amendment Bill 2009 - Privacy impact assessment and commentary

In 2008 the Attorney-General's Department contracted with Salinger Privacy to conduct a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) of the proposals to amend the AusCheck Act 2007 to extend the purposes for which a background checking scheme could be established under the Act to include national security. Salinger Privacy had previously conducted the PIA of the AusCheck Bill 2006.

The PIA of the proposed extended functional capacity was conducted to identify and assess the privacy impacts posed by the legislative proposal and the likely practical uses to be made of the new national security background checking facility. The PIA allowed the Department to be made aware of the recommended options for managing, minimising or eradicating privacy impacts associated with the proposal.

The PIA was provided to the Department on 3 March 2009. A total of 14 recommendations were made by the PIA under four theme areas: reducing the risk of function creep; minimising the unnecessary collection of personal information; promoting fair decision-making; and ensuring transparency of operations.

The associated commentary explains how the proposals in the PIA relate to the AusCheck Amendment Bill as introduced into Parliament.

The PIA and commentary were tabled in Parliament on 18 March 2009 by the Attorney-General during the House of Representatives debate on the AusCheck Amendment Bill 2009.

If you have any questions please contact us at: AusCheck@ag.gov.au