New Government Guidelines To Help Protect Privacy
Announcement posted by NSW Department of Information Technology and Management 27 Jul 2002
New guidelines governing the management of information in the public sector will protect important privacy rights of people throughout the state, NSW Minister for Information Technology Kim Yeadon said today.
Mr Yeadon said the Governments Privacy and Personal Information Guideline would be an important tool for all public sector staff to ensure that personal information was appropriately collected, stored and used.
The use of new technology is a wonderful tool, but it also must be used in a responsible way so that the rights of every individual is protected, Mr Yeadon said.
These new guidelines will be an important tool for government on how it collects, uses and stores information obtained through electronic means.
The NSW Government is taking extra steps to make sure public sector staff will follow all the right rules, when it comes to protecting personal information.
The new guidelines will help government understand and apply almost 50 separate laws and documents in relation to the protection of information and personal privacy in the NSW Public sector.
Mr Yeadon said development and innovation in the IT sector had helped deliver better and more efficient services to the people of NSW.
More and more government services are becoming available online and we want more people to take advantage of these services, Mr Yeadon said.
These guidelines will make sure that personal privacy and individual rights will not be compromised by on-line innovation in e-Government services.
Trust is such an important part of the success of e-Government. The NSW Government realises that the confidence of people and business is vital in NSW continuing to be the leader in e-Government initiatives.
Mr Yeadon said the new guidelines were a plain English guide to the Privacy and Personal Information Act as well as other legislation covering the release of information, workplace surveillance and Internet and email protocols.
Government is obliged by law to protect information, however Australians are still sceptical of dealing with any agency because of concerns for the protection of personal details, Mr Yeadon said.
One in every two Australian wouldnt even allow the Federal Government to keep their 2001 Census forms as a 99 year record.
These guidelines are a sign that the NSW Government is taking the right steps to make sure innovation in IT wont stampede over personal privacy rights of individuals.
The NSW Governments Office of Information Technology produced the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Guidelines, in consultation with the NSW Privacy Commission.
It was important for the NSW Government to seek the advice of the NSW Privacy Commission earlier on in the formation of the guidelines to make sure we do the job in making e-government more secure, Mr Yeadon said.
Mr Yeadon and NSW Privacy Commissioner Chris Puplick will be available to talk on these new privacy guidelines for e-government in NSW at 9.30am today, 26/7/02, at the Locomotive Workshop at the Australian Technology Park in Redfern.
Mr Yeadon said the Governments Privacy and Personal Information Guideline would be an important tool for all public sector staff to ensure that personal information was appropriately collected, stored and used.
The use of new technology is a wonderful tool, but it also must be used in a responsible way so that the rights of every individual is protected, Mr Yeadon said.
These new guidelines will be an important tool for government on how it collects, uses and stores information obtained through electronic means.
The NSW Government is taking extra steps to make sure public sector staff will follow all the right rules, when it comes to protecting personal information.
The new guidelines will help government understand and apply almost 50 separate laws and documents in relation to the protection of information and personal privacy in the NSW Public sector.
Mr Yeadon said development and innovation in the IT sector had helped deliver better and more efficient services to the people of NSW.
More and more government services are becoming available online and we want more people to take advantage of these services, Mr Yeadon said.
These guidelines will make sure that personal privacy and individual rights will not be compromised by on-line innovation in e-Government services.
Trust is such an important part of the success of e-Government. The NSW Government realises that the confidence of people and business is vital in NSW continuing to be the leader in e-Government initiatives.
Mr Yeadon said the new guidelines were a plain English guide to the Privacy and Personal Information Act as well as other legislation covering the release of information, workplace surveillance and Internet and email protocols.
Government is obliged by law to protect information, however Australians are still sceptical of dealing with any agency because of concerns for the protection of personal details, Mr Yeadon said.
One in every two Australian wouldnt even allow the Federal Government to keep their 2001 Census forms as a 99 year record.
These guidelines are a sign that the NSW Government is taking the right steps to make sure innovation in IT wont stampede over personal privacy rights of individuals.
The NSW Governments Office of Information Technology produced the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Guidelines, in consultation with the NSW Privacy Commission.
It was important for the NSW Government to seek the advice of the NSW Privacy Commission earlier on in the formation of the guidelines to make sure we do the job in making e-government more secure, Mr Yeadon said.
Mr Yeadon and NSW Privacy Commissioner Chris Puplick will be available to talk on these new privacy guidelines for e-government in NSW at 9.30am today, 26/7/02, at the Locomotive Workshop at the Australian Technology Park in Redfern.