Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 25 NOVEMBER 2017

New APP Code mandatory for Australian Government agencies

Clayton Utz
Explore more from Clayton Utz

Government agencies have until 1 July 2018 to ensure they comply with a new Agency APP Code under the Privacy Act 1988.

AustraliaPrivacy
Alexandra Wedutenko
Alexandra Wedutenko
Mathew Baldwin
Mathew Baldwin
Author LinkedIn connections

New privacy champions and privacy officers, and Privacy Impact Assessments for all "high privacy risk" projects, will soon be mandatory for Commonwealth agencies.

Agencies have until 1 July 2018 to ensure they comply with a new Australian Privacy Principle (APP) Code under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Agency APP Code), with compliance mandatory for all Australian Government agencies that are "agencies" under the Act.

Agencies that have not yet done so will need to:

  • appoint a privacy officer and privacy champion, empowered to manage ongoing compliance requirements;
  • ensure a Privacy Management Plan is in place; and
  • ensure processes are in place for undertaking necessary privacy impact assessments and training.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Digital Duty Of Care: What Australian Businesses Need To Know

The Australian Government's proposed digital duty of care reforms would extend online safety obligations far beyond social media platforms to encompass any business operating websites, digital platforms, or AI-enabled tools. Rather than simply responding to complaints, businesses would need to proactively identify foreseeable risks and implement safeguards, with substantial penalties for non-compliance reaching up to $109.2 million for companies. The exposure draft introduces a fundamental shift from reacti
AustraliaPrivacy
Holding Redlich
Holding Redlich
Article

Transparency In Automated Decision-Making: What The OAIC Guidance Means For Your Business

Australia's privacy regulator has issued final guidance on new transparency obligations for automated decision-making systems. From December 2026, organisations using computer programs—including AI, algorithms, and everyday software—to make or inform significant decisions about individuals must disclose these practices in their privacy policies. The guidance reveals a broader compliance burden than many expect, particularly for businesses using automated tools across recruitment, pricing, credit
AustraliaPrivacy
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Article

Privacy Reform In Australia: What Businesses Need To Know In 2026-2027 (Part 2)

The Australian Government has released the Exposure Draft Privacy Amendment (Personal Data Protection) Bill 2026, proposing the most significant overhaul of privacy law in years. These reforms would fundamentally change how Australian businesses handle personal information, introducing a new "fair and reasonable" test, stronger consent requirements, expanded definitions of personal information, and new rules for AI and emerging technologies.
AustraliaPrivacy
Coleman Greig Lawyers
Coleman Greig Lawyers
Article

Australia’s Privacy Act Reforms: Fundamental Changes Proposed In New Exposure Draft

Australia's Privacy Act reform has reached a critical milestone with the release of exposure draft legislation proposing fundamental changes to how organisations handle personal information. The reforms introduce a new 'fair and reasonable' test for data collection and use, a right of erasure for large digital platforms, strengthened consent standards, a statutory controller/processor framework, restrictions on trading personal data, and enhanced data breach obligations. These changes come at a time when em
AustraliaPrivacy
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Article

Privacy Reform In Australia: What Businesses Need To Know In 2026-2027

Australia's privacy laws are undergoing significant reform, with new automated decision-making transparency requirements commencing in December 2026 and further substantial changes under consideration. Businesses must prepare for enhanced regulatory scrutiny, increased litigation risk through the new statutory tort for serious privacy invasions, and potential expansion of obligations to small businesses and employee records.
AustraliaPrivacy
Coleman Greig Lawyers
Coleman Greig Lawyers
Article

OAIC Guidance And How Private Sector Organisations Can Prepare

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has released guidance on new automated decision-making transparency requirements under the Privacy Act, commencing 10 December. Private sector organisations using AI-enabled products, recruitment technologies, fraud detection tools, pricing algorithms and other data-driven systems must now assess whether their automated systems trigger disclosure obligations in privacy policies.
AustraliaPrivacy
Holding Redlich
Holding Redlich