Publication date: 22 July 2019

The APP guidelines may be updated from time to time, including to take account of changes in the Privacy Act 1988 or other legislation, determinations made under s 52 of the Privacy Act and relevant tribunal and court decisions. Chapters of the APP guidelines are updated individually. This page contains archived versions of each chapter, and notes on the changes between versions for each chapter.

Chapter A: Introductory matters
Version Currency dates Changes and other comments
1.0 21-Feb-2014 to 31-Mar-2015  
1.1 1-Apr-2015 to 21-Jul-2019

Inclusion of new [A.4] and [A.29]–[A.32] to explain that the APP guidelines may provide relevant guidance to Australian Capital Territory public sector agencies.

1.2 22-Jul-2019 to ...

Updated references to OAIC and external publications for new website launch


Chapter B: Key concepts
Version Currency dates Changes and other comments
1.0 21-Feb-2014 to 28-Feb-2014  
1.1 1-Mar-2014 to 31-Mar-2015

Amended text to reflect Privacy Act amendment to definition of sensitive information re; sexual orientation... [B.132]

1.2 1-Apr-2015 to 21-Jul-2019
  • Clarified the circumstances in which small business operators are treated as organisations and therefore APP entities ([B.7])
  • Revised and expanded discussion about ‘carries on business in Australia’, a component of the test for whether an APP entity has an ‘Australian link’ ([B.13–B.21])
  • Small clarifications to the discussion about ‘disclosure’, including the addition of a new footnote reference to an AAT decision ([B.64] and [B.68])
  • Minor stylistic change ([B.104])
  • Updated discussion about ‘sensitive information’ to explain that information may be sensitive information where it clearly implies one of the matters listed in the definition of ‘sensitive information’ in s 6(1) ([B.139])
1.3 22-Jul-2019 to ...

Updated references to OAIC and external publications for new website launch


Chapter C: Permitted general situations
Version Currency dates Changes and other comments
1.0 21-Feb-2014 to 21-Jul-2019  
1.1 22-Jul-2019 to ...

Updated references to OAIC and external publications for new website launch


Chapter D: Permitted health situations
Version Currency dates Changes and other comments
1.0 21-Feb-2014 to 21-Jul-2019  
1.1 22-Jul-2019 to ...

Updated references to OAIC and external publications for new website launch


Chapter 1: APP 1 Open and transparent management of personal information
Version Currency dates Changes and other comments
1.0 21-Feb-2014 to 21-Jul-2019  
1.1 22-Jul-2019 to ...

Updated references to OAIC and external publications for new website launch


Chapter 2: APP 2 Anonymity and pseudonymity
Version Currency dates Changes and other comments
1.0 21-Feb-2014 to 21-Jul-2019  
1.1 22-Jul-2019 to ...

Updated references to OAIC and external publications for new website launch


Chapter 3: APP 3 Collection of solicited personal information
Version Currency dates Changes and other comments
1.0 21-Feb-2014 to 21-Jul-2019  
1.1 22-Jul-2019 to ...

Updated references to OAIC and external publications for new website launch


Chapter 4: APP 4 Dealing with unsolicited personal information
Version Currency dates Changes and other comments
1.0 21-Feb-2014 to 21-Jul-2019  
1.1 22-Jul-2019 to ...

Updated references to OAIC and external publications for new website launch


Chapter 5: APP 5 Notification of the collection of personal information
Version Currency dates Changes and other comments
1.0 21-Feb-2014 to 1-Mar-2018  
1.1 2-Mar-2018 to 21-Jul-2019

New reference to legislated family violence information sharing schemes in [5.7]

1.2 22-Jul-2019 to ...

Updated references to OAIC and external publications for new website launch


Chapter 6: APP 6 Use or disclosure of personal information
Version Currency dates Changes and other comments
1.0 21-Feb-2014 to 21-Jul-2019  
1.1 22-Jul-2019 to ...

Updated references to OAIC and external publications for new website launch


Chapter 7: APP 7 Direct marketing
Version Currency dates Changes and other comments
1.0 21-Feb-2014 to 21-Jul-2019  
1.1 22-Jul-2019 to ...

Updated references to OAIC and external publications for new website launch


Chapter 8: APP 8 Cross-border disclosure of personal information
Version Currency dates Changes and other comments
1.0 21-Feb-2014 to 31-Mar-2015  
1.1 1-Apr-2015 to 21-Jul-2019
  • Revised discussion of the circumstances where an APP entity may be taken to breach the APPs, when it provides personal information to an overseas contractor as a ‘use’, and the information is mishandled overseas ([8.15])
  • Revised and expanded discussion about the circumstances in which the ‘international agreement’ exception in APP 8.2(e) applies ([8.47]–[8.51])
  • Minor amendments to footnotes to correct website references ([8.1], [8.21])
1.2 22-Jul-2019 to ...

Updated references to OAIC and external publications for new website launch


Chapter 9: APP 9 Adoption, use or disclosure of government related identifiers
Version Currency dates Changes and other comments
1.0 21-Feb-2014 to 21-Jul-2019  
1.1 22-Jul-2019 to ...

Updated references to OAIC and external publications for new website launch


Chapter 10: APP 10 Quality of personal information
Version Currency dates Changes and other comments
1.0 21-Feb-2014 to 21-Jul-2019  
1.1 22-Jul-2019 to ...

Updated references to OAIC and external publications for new website launch


Chapter 11: APP 11 Security of personal information
Version Currency dates Changes and other comments
1.0 21-Feb-2014 to 31-Mar-2015  
1.1 1-Apr-2015 to 21-Jul-2019
  • New reference to the OAIC Guide to Securing Personal Information (2015) [Key point 3, [11.10] and ([11.34])
  • Consolidation and amendment of discussion, about relevant considerations in taking ‘reasonable steps’, for consistency with OAIC Guide to Securing Personal Information (2015) ([11.7]–[11.10])
  • Minor stylistic changes ([11.11 and 11.42])
  • Small clarifications to examples of ‘loss’, ‘unauthorised access’, ‘unauthorised modification’ and ‘unauthorised disclosure’ including in footnotes ([11.15]–[11.21])
  • Minor amendment to footnote to correct reference to Australian Government Information Security Manual and to Australian Signals Directorate website ([11.37])
1.2 22-Jul-2019 to ...

Updated references to OAIC and external publications for new website launch


Chapter 12: APP 12 Access to personal information
Version Currency dates Changes and other comments
1.0 21-Feb-2014 to 21-Jul-2019  
1.1 22-Jul-2019 to ...

Updated references to OAIC and external publications for new website launch


Chapter 13: APP 13 Correction of personal information
Version Currency dates Changes and other comments
1.0 21-Feb-2014 to 21-Jul-2019  
1.1 22-Jul-2019 to ...

Updated references to OAIC and external publications for new website launch