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How Privacy Laws Work

The Information Privacy Act 2000 and Health Records Act 2001 are the two major pieces of legislation that regulate how Victorian Government departments and other government bodies handle your personal and health information.

Objectives of information privacy laws

The Information Privacy Act 2000 aims to:

• balance the public interest in the free flow of information against someone's right to privacy when dealing with the public sector
• ensure personal information is handled in an open and responsible way
• promote awareness of responsible handling of personal information in the public sector.

On top of these objectives, the Health Records Act 2001 aims to:

• help people be informed about their health care or disability services
• promote quality health care, disability and aged care services.

How information privacy laws protect you

Both pieces of legislation establish bodies and regulators designed to help manage privacy issues and complaints in Victoria. Separate privacy regulators have been set up to look after privacy issues concerning personal information and health information. The Office of the Victorian Privacy Commissioner is responsible for issues concerning personal information privacy, and the Office of the Health Service Commissioner is responsible for issues concerning health information privacy. 

The laws regulate how Victorian public sector and health bodies handle, collect or disclose personal and health information.

Under the laws, individuals are allowed to access any personal or medical information held by a government department or body, and have the chance to dispute or change any incorrect information on file.

Information privacy laws also provide remedies for interference with a person's information privacy.