NSW: Cautious welcome for new privacy laws

AAP General News (Australia)
12-20-2001
NSW: Cautious welcome for new privacy laws

Consumers can choose to have their names wiped off databases when new privacy laws
come into effect tomorrow.

But consumer groups are warning that exemptions have weakened the new privacy Act.

The Privacy Amendment Private Sector Act gives consumers a legal right to have their
personal details deleted from direct marketing databases -- and it prevents them being
passed or sold to third parties.

It also enables patients to access relevant medical records and to correct personal
information about them held by private companies.

But the laws -- which come into effect at midnight tonight -- only apply to companies
with an income of more than $3 million a year and to all health service providers.

The Consumers Health Forum, a national health consumers advocacy group, says it has
concerns about exemptions to accessing health records, as they may be interpreted to deny
consumers access to their personal information.

And the Australian Consumers Association says the exemptions for small businesses may
prove confusing for consumers who may not know a company's income.

AAP RTV rcg/rk/arb/tb/rp

KEYWORD: PRIVACY (SYDNEY)

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