3 May 2023

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) today welcomed the announcement by the Attorney-General the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP that the government will appoint a standalone Privacy Commissioner and an interim Freedom of Information Commissioner.

This will mean the OAIC will have three statutory office holders: the Australian Information Commissioner (as agency head), a Privacy Commissioner and a Freedom of Information (FOI) Commissioner.

“I welcome this decision by the Attorney-General in Privacy Awareness Week to bolster the OAIC to carry out our important statutory functions,” Australian Information Commissioner and Privacy Commissioner Angelene Falk said.

Commissioner Falk will remain Information Commissioner and head of the OAIC. She will continue as Privacy Commissioner until the Privacy Commissioner appointment is made.

The OAIC also looks forward to Ms Toni Pirani joining as acting FOI Commissioner commencing on 20 May 2023.

For more information about the work of the OAIC in promoting and upholding privacy and information access rights and Privacy Awareness Week go to www.oaic.gov.au