AUSTRALIAN PRIVACY ACT
The Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) contains provisions that deal with the following:
Personal information means information or an opinion (including information or an opinion forming part of a database), whether true or not, and whether recorded in a material form or not, about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from the information or opinion.
Sensitive information means:
Information or an opinion about an individual’s:
Racial or ethnic origin; or
Political opinions; or
Membership of a political association; or
Religious beliefs or affiliations; or
Philosophical beliefs; or
Membership of a professional or trade association; or
Membership of a trade union; or
Sexual preferences or practices; or
Criminal record;
That is also personal information; or
(i) health information about an individual; or
(ii) genetic information about an individual that is not otherwise health information.
Australian Privacy Law states businesses must ‘take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify personal information that is no longer required.’* Not only does the careless discarding of confidential information put your business and your customer’s identities at risk, you become vulnerable to significant fines.
