In L v Commonwealth Agency [2010] PrivCmr 14,
the former Privacy Commisioner (noting that as of 1 November 2010,
the former Office of the Privacy Commisioner has been integrated
into the Office of the Australian Information Commisioner (OAIC))
(Commisioner) reviewed a decision made by a Government Agency (the
Agency) to publicly disclose an individual's private
information to the media. The Agency disclosed the information in
response to the Complainant making public criticisms to the media
about an Agency decision.
IPP 11 prohibits the disclosure of personal information to
anyone else other than the individual concerned, unless a relevant
exception applies. IPP 11.1(a) provides an exception where the
individual is reasonably likely to have been aware or made aware
that information of that kind is usually passed to the relevant
person, body or agency.
