Introduction
Statutory committees
Local networks
National forums
International forums and arrangements
Introduction
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) administers two statutory committees — the Information Advisory Committee and the Privacy Advisory Committee.
The OAIC also hosts two local networks to increase opportunities for information professionals to meet, share expertise and collaborate — the Information Contact Officer Network (for public sector information professionals) and Privacy Connections Network (for private sector privacy professionals).
We also build and maintain productive relationships with counterpart organisations in other jurisdictions through a number of national and international forums and arrangements.
These networks, forums and arrangements are all discussed below.
Statutory committees
Information Advisory Committee (IAC)
The Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010 provides for the appointment of the IAC. The role of the IAC is to assist and advise the Australian Information Commissioner (Information Commissioner) in matters relating to the performance of the Information Commissioner functions. For more information see the Information Advisory Committee page.
Privacy Advisory Committee (PAC)
PAC provides strategic advice on privacy, from a broad range of perspectives, to the Information Commissioner. For more information see the Privacy Advisory Committee page.
Local networks
Information Contact Officers Network (ICON)
ICON is a network for freedom of information (FOI), Information Publication Scheme (IPS) and Privacy Contact Officers in Australian Government agencies, the Norfolk Island administration and, relating to privacy only, ACT government agencies. For more information see the Information Contact Officers Network page.
Privacy Connections Network (PCN)
The PCN is a network for privacy professionals in the private sector. The OAIC has developed this network to assist Australian businesses keep up to date with privacy developments, including privacy law reforms. For more information see the Privacy Connections Network page.
National forums
Association of Information Access Commissioners (AIAC)
The AIAC was established in September 2010 by the statutory officers in each Australian jurisdiction responsible for FOI oversight, and development of information policy. The membership of the AIAC comprises Information Commissioners (Commonwealth, NSW, NT, Queensland and WA), the Commonwealth FOI Commissioner, the Queensland Right to Information Commissioner, and the Ombudsmen from other state jurisdictions.
The AIAC aims to exchange information and experience between offices about the exercise of their oversight responsibilities, and promote best practice and consistency in information access policies and laws. Matters discussed at meetings include work practices for handling complaints and reviews, case law developments, monitoring and audit activity, research projects, staff training, public awareness activities and international links.
Privacy Authorities Australia (PAA)
PAA is a group of Australian privacy authorities that meets regularly to promote best practice and consistency of privacy policies and laws.
PAA membership includes the OAIC, privacy representatives from all states and territories, and the Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department.
Administrative Review Council
The Information Commissioner is an ex officio member of the Administrative Review Council (ARC) under the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 s 49(1). Other ex officio members of the Council are the Commonwealth Ombudsman, President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, President of the Australian Law Reform Commission, and President of the Australian Human Rights Commission. For more information see the Administrative Review Council website.
International forums and arrangements
Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities Forum (APPA)
APPA is the principal forum for privacy authorities in the Asia Pacific Region to form partnerships and exchange ideas about privacy regulation, new technologies and the management of privacy enquiries and complaints.
The OAIC provides secretariat services to APPA. For more information see the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities Forum website.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Thirteen privacy enforcement authorities from around the world, including Australia, joined forces to launch the Global Privacy Enforcement Network (GPEN) in September 2010. GPEN is designed to facilitate cross-border cooperation in the enforcement of privacy laws.
GPEN builds on the OECD’s Recommendation on Privacy Law Enforcement Cooperation (2007) which recognised the need for greater cooperation between privacy enforcement authorities in cross-border privacy matters. The Recommendation states that member countries should foster the establishment of an informal network of privacy enforcement authorities and other appropriate stakeholders to discuss the practical aspects of privacy law enforcement cooperation.
For more information see the Global Privacy Enforcement Network website.
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
In 2007, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies endorsed the APEC Data Privacy Pathfinder(the Pathfinder) to guide implementation of the APEC Privacy Framework.
The Cross-border Privacy Enforcement Arrangement (CPEA) has been developed as part of the Pathfinder initiative, and provides a framework for privacy regulators to cooperate and seek information and advice from each other on cross-border enforcement matters.
For more information see the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation page.
International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners (ICDPPC)
The International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioner (ICDPPC) is an international forum which holds a conference each year.
The 2014 conference is being hosted by the Data Protection Office of the Republic of Mauritius. More information:
Past ICDPPC websites include:
- 35th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners — Warsaw, Poland (September 2013)
- 34th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners — Punta del Este, Uruguay (October 2012)
- 33rd International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners — Mexico City, Mexico (November 2011)
- 32nd International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners — Jerusalem, Israel (October 2010)
- 31st International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners — Madrid, Spain (November 2009)
- 30th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners — Strasbourg, Germany (October 2008)
- 29th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioner — Montreal, Canada (September 2007)
- 28th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners — London, United Kingdom (November 2006)
- 27th International Conference of Privacy and Personal Data Protection Commissioners — Montreux, Switzerland (September 2005)
- 26th International Conference of Privacy and Personal Data Protection Commissioners — Wroclaw, Poland (September 2004)
- 25th International Conference of Privacy and Personal Data Protection Commissioners — Sydney, Australia (September 2003)
Resolutions and declarations from the ICDPPC conferences since 2000 are available from the WorldLII International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners Resolutions and Declarations database.
