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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
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General FAQs
The OAIC's online forms for submitting privacy and FOI complaints, FOI requests for review and general enquiries
Question: Does the OAIC have online forms to submit privacy or FOI complaints, requests for reviews of FOI decisions or general enquiries?
Answer: Yes, the OAIC has several online forms. For links to the online forms see our contact page.
Question: What happens to my online form?
Answer: If you select one of our online forms, the form will be downloaded to your computer. You can save your answers at any time while entering information and come back to it later. You can also attach documents (word, pdf, jpeg and excel) to the form. Once you have filled it in you can submit the form to the office.
This form will expire 10 days from the time you downloaded it, after that it can no longer be submitted. However, you can download a new copy from our website.
When you submit the form, it is sent to the OAIC by a secure system, ensuring your personal information is kept secure.
After you submit the form, you will receive a message containing a unique number for your form which indicates that the form has been submitted.
The OAIC will process your form and you will be assigned a unique case number. That case number will be used as a reference in all communication about your complaint, review or enquiry.
Our staff will then assess your form and work out the appropriate next steps for your complaint, review request or enquiry.
If you have any questions please contact us.
Freedom of information FAQs
Freedom of information FAQs are forthcoming
Privacy FAQs
Note: A large range of other privacy related FAQs for Australian Government agencies, businesses, not-for-profits and individuals are available on the former Office of the Privacy Commissioner's website at: http://www.privacy.gov.au/faq.
National Relay Service
Question: Will businesses, service providers or government agencies be breaching the Privacy Act by providing information to customers through the National Relay Service (NRS)?Answer: The Privacy Act generally allows for information to be provided to customers via the NRS. For more information, contact us.
The Australian Human Rights Commission has also published FAQs about how the Disability Discrimination Act applies to the NRS at: www.hreoc.gov.au/disability_rights/faq/Goods_etc/goods_etc.html#nrs.
Personal Property Securities Register
Question: How will privacy be protected on the Personal Property Securities Register?Answer: The Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) has a number of mechanisms to protect individual grantors and other members of the public from misuse of the Personal Property Securities Register (PPS Register).
An individual will be able to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner if:
- notice is not given to individual grantors (i.e. individuals who grant a security interest over their personal property) in relation to the addition, amendment or removal of information from the PPS Register
- an unauthorised search of the PPS Register, or use of the personal information obtained as a result, occurs.
For information about making a complaint see our privacy complaint page.
More information about the PPS Register is available on the PPS Register website at: http://www.ppsr.gov.au
Note: Information regarding privacy and the PPS Register is also available on the former Office of the Privacy Commissioner's website at: www.privacy.gov.au/law/other/personal-property-securities-register