Privacy Act 1988

Act No. 119 of 1988 as amended

This compilation was prepared on 2 December 2005
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 128 of 2005

The text of any of those amendments not in force
on that date is appended in the Notes section

The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be
affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney‑General’s Department, Canberra

  

  

  


Contents

Part I—Preliminary                                                                                                                1

1............ Short title [see Note 1]....................................................................... 1

2............ Commencement [see Note 1].............................................................. 1

3............ Saving of certain State and Territory laws.......................................... 1

3A......... Application of the Criminal Code...................................................... 2

4............ Act to bind the Crown........................................................................ 2

5............ Interpretation of Information Privacy Principles............................... 2

5A......... Extension to external Territories......................................................... 2

5B......... Extra‑territorial operation of Act........................................................ 3

Part II—Interpretation                                                                                                         5

6............ Interpretation...................................................................................... 5

6A......... Breach of a National Privacy Principle............................................. 20

6B......... Breach of an approved privacy code................................................ 21

6C......... Organisations.................................................................................... 22

6D......... Small business and small business operators.................................... 24

6DA...... What is the annual turnover of a business?..................................... 26

6E.......... Small business operator treated as organisation............................... 27

6EA....... Small business operators choosing to be treated as organisations.... 28

6F.......... State instrumentalities etc. treated as organisations......................... 29

7............ Acts and practices of agencies, organisations etc............................. 30

7A......... Acts of certain agencies treated as acts of organisation.................... 33

7B......... Exempt acts and exempt practices of organisations......................... 34

7C......... Political acts and practices are exempt............................................. 35

8............ Acts and practices of, and disclosure of information to, staff of agency, organisation etc.     38

9............ Collectors.......................................................................................... 39

10.......... Record‑keepers................................................................................. 40

11.......... File number recipients...................................................................... 41

11A....... Credit reporting agencies.................................................................. 42

11B....... Credit providers................................................................................ 42

12.......... Application of Information Privacy Principles to agency in possession                45

12A....... Act not to apply in relation to State banking or insurance within that State          45

12B....... Severability: additional effect of Act in relation to organisations..... 45

Part III—Information privacy                                                                                        47

Division 1—Interferences with privacy                                                            47

13.......... Interferences with privacy................................................................ 47

13A....... Interferences with privacy by organisations.................................... 48

13B....... Related bodies corporate.................................................................. 49

13C....... Change in partnership because of change in partners....................... 50

13D....... Overseas act required by foreign law................................................ 51

13E........ Effect on section 13 of sections 13B, 13C and 13D......................... 51

13F........ Act or practice not covered by section 13 or section 13A is not an interference with privacy              51

Division 2—Information Privacy Principles                                                    52

14.......... Information Privacy Principles......................................................... 52

Manner and purpose of collection of personal information............................ 52

Solicitation of personal information from individual concerned...................... 52

Solicitation of personal information generally................................................. 53

Storage and security of personal information.................................................. 53

Information relating to records kept by record‑keeper.................................... 54

Access to records containing personal information......................................... 55

Alteration of records containing personal information.................................... 55

Record‑keeper to check accuracy etc. of personal information before use...... 56

Personal information to be used only for relevant purposes........................... 56

Limits on use of personal information............................................................. 56

Limits on disclosure of personal information.................................................. 57

15.......... Application of Information Privacy Principles................................ 58

16.......... Agencies to comply with Information Privacy Principles............... 58

Division 3—Approved privacy codes and the National Privacy Principles          59

16A....... Organisations to comply with approved privacy codes or National Privacy Principles        59

16B....... Personal information in records........................................................ 59

16C....... Application of National Privacy Principles..................................... 60

16D....... Delayed application of National Privacy Principles to small business 60

16E........ Personal, family or household affairs............................................... 61

16F........ Information under Commonwealth contract not to be used for direct marketing    62

Division 4—Tax file number information                                                         63

17.......... Guidelines relating to tax file number information............................ 63

18.......... File number recipients to comply with guidelines............................ 63

Division 5—Credit information                                                                             64

18A....... Code of Conduct relating to credit information files and credit reports  64

18B....... Credit reporting agencies and credit providers to comply with Code of Conduct  64

Part IIIAA—Privacy codes                                                                                              65

18BA.... Application for approval of privacy code........................................ 65

18BAA. Privacy codes may cover exempt acts or practices.......................... 65

18BB..... Commissioner may approve privacy code....................................... 65

18BC..... When approval takes effect.............................................................. 68

18BD.... Varying an approved privacy code................................................... 68

18BE..... Revoking the approval of an approved privacy code....................... 69

18BF..... Guidelines about privacy codes........................................................ 69

18BG.... Register of approved privacy codes................................................. 70

18BH.... Review of operation of approved privacy code............................... 70

18BI...... Review of adjudicator’s decision under approved privacy code...... 70

Part IIIA—Credit reporting                                                                                            72

18C....... Certain credit reporting only to be undertaken by corporations...... 72

18D....... Personal information not to be given to certain persons carrying on credit reporting             72

18E........ Permitted contents of credit information files.................................. 73

18F........ Deletion of information from credit information files...................... 76

18G....... Accuracy and security of credit information files and credit reports 78

18H....... Access to credit information files and credit reports........................ 79

18J........ Alteration of credit information files and credit reports................... 79

18K....... Limits on disclosure of personal information by credit reporting agencies             80

18L........ Limits on use by credit providers of personal information contained in credit reports etc.    84

18M...... Information to be given if an individual’s application for credit is refused             87

18N....... Limits on disclosure by credit providers of personal information contained in reports relating to credit worthiness etc........................................................................................................... 88

18NA.... Disclosure by credit providers to certain persons who gave indemnities                96

18P........ Limits on use or disclosure by mortgage insurers or trade insurers of personal information contained in credit reports.......................................................................................................... 96

18Q....... Limits on use by certain persons of personal information obtained from credit providers     98

18R....... False or misleading credit reports................................................... 100

18S........ Unauthorised access to credit information files or credit reports... 101

18T....... Obtaining access to credit information files or credit reports by false pretences    101

18U....... Application of section 4B of Crimes Act....................................... 101

18V....... Application of this Part.................................................................. 102

Part IV—Office of the Privacy Commissioner                                                   103

Division 1—Office of the Privacy Commissioner                                      103

19.......... Establishment of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner............ 103

19A....... Privacy Commissioner.................................................................... 103

20.......... Terms and conditions of appointment........................................... 103

21.......... Remuneration of Commissioner..................................................... 103

22.......... Leave of absence............................................................................. 104

23.......... Outside employment...................................................................... 104

24.......... Resignation..................................................................................... 104

25.......... Termination of appointment.......................................................... 104

26.......... Acting Commissioner..................................................................... 104

26A....... Staff and consultants...................................................................... 105

Division 2—Functions of Commissioner                                                        106

27.......... Functions of Commissioner in relation to interferences with privacy 106

28.......... Functions of Commissioner in relation to tax file numbers............ 109

28A....... Functions of Commissioner in relation to credit reporting............. 110

29.......... Commissioner to have regard to certain matters............................. 111

Division 3—Reports by Commissioner                                                          113

30.......... Reports following investigation of act or practice.......................... 113

31.......... Report following examination of proposed enactment................... 115

32.......... Report following monitoring of certain activities [see Note 2]...... 115

33.......... Exclusion of certain matters from reports...................................... 116

Division 4—Miscellaneous                                                                                    118

34.......... Provisions relating to documents exempt under the Freedom of Information Act 1982          118

35.......... Direction where refusal or failure to amend exempt document...... 118

Part V—Investigations                                                                                                     120

Division 1—Investigation of complaints and investigations on the Commissioner’s initiative                120

36.......... Complaints..................................................................................... 120

37.......... Principal executive of agency.......................................................... 121

38.......... Conditions for making a representative complaint......................... 122

38A....... Commissioner may determine that a complaint is not to continue as a representative complaint          123

38B....... Additional rules applying to the determination of representative complaints        124

38C....... Amendment of representative complaints...................................... 124

39.......... Class member for representative complaint not entitled to lodge individual complaint          124

40.......... Investigations.................................................................................. 124

40A....... Referring complaint about act under Commonwealth contract...... 125

41.......... Circumstances in which Commissioner may decide not to investigate or may defer investigation         126

42.......... Preliminary inquiries....................................................................... 127

43.......... Conduct of investigations............................................................... 127

44.......... Power to obtain information and documents.................................. 129

45.......... Power to examine witnesses........................................................... 130

46.......... Directions to persons to attend compulsory conference................ 130

47.......... Conduct of compulsory conference................................................ 131

48.......... Complainant and certain other persons to be informed of various matters             132

49.......... Investigation under section 40 to cease if certain offences may have been committed            132

50.......... Reference of matters to other authorities....................................... 133

50A....... Substitution of respondent to complaint........................................ 135

51.......... Effect of investigation by Auditor‑General.................................... 136

Division 2—Determinations following investigation of complaints  137

52.......... Determination of the Commissioner............................................... 137

53.......... Determination must identify the class members who are to be affected by the determination               139

53A....... Notice to be given to outsourcing agency....................................... 139

53B....... Substituting respondent to determination...................................... 140

Division 3—Enforcement                                                                                       141

54.......... Application of Division.................................................................. 141

55.......... Obligations of respondent organisation.......................................... 141

55A....... Proceedings in the Federal Court or Federal Magistrates Court to enforce a determination   142

55B....... Evidentiary certificate..................................................................... 143

Division 4—Review and enforcement of determinations involving Commonwealth agencies  145

57.......... Application of Division.................................................................. 145

58.......... Obligations of respondent agency.................................................. 145

59.......... Obligations of principal executive of agency.................................. 145

60.......... Compensation and expenses........................................................... 146

61.......... Review of determinations regarding compensation and expenses.. 146

62.......... Enforcement of determination against an agency............................ 146

Division 5—Miscellaneous                                                                                    148

63.......... Legal assistance............................................................................... 148

64.......... Commissioner etc. not to be sued................................................... 149

65.......... Failure to attend etc. before Commissioner.................................... 149

66.......... Failure to give information etc........................................................ 150

67.......... Protection from civil actions........................................................... 153

68.......... Power to enter premises................................................................. 153

68A....... Identity cards.................................................................................. 154

69.......... Restrictions on Commissioner obtaining personal information and documents      155

70.......... Certain documents and information not required to be disclosed... 157

70A....... Application of Part to organisations that are not legal persons..... 158

70B....... Application of this Part to former organisations............................ 158

Part VI—Public interest determinations and temporary public interest determinations    160

Division 1—Public interest determinations                                                  160

71.......... Interpretation.................................................................................. 160

72.......... Power to make, and effect of, determinations................................ 160

73.......... Application by agency or organisation........................................... 161

74.......... Publication of application............................................................... 162

75.......... Draft determination........................................................................ 162

76.......... Conference...................................................................................... 163

77.......... Conduct of conference.................................................................... 163

78.......... Determination of application.......................................................... 164

79.......... Making of determination................................................................ 164

80.......... Determinations disallowable........................................................... 164

Division 2—Temporary public interest determinations                         165

80A....... Temporary public interest determinations..................................... 165

80B....... Effect of temporary public interest determination......................... 165

80C....... Determinations disallowable........................................................... 166

80D....... Commissioner may continue to consider application..................... 166

Division 3—Register of determinations                                                         167

80E........ Register of determinations.............................................................. 167

Part VII—Privacy Advisory Committee                                                                168

81.......... Interpretation.................................................................................. 168

82.......... Establishment and membership...................................................... 168

83.......... Functions........................................................................................ 169

84.......... Leave of absence............................................................................. 169

85.......... Removal and resignation of members............................................. 170

86.......... Disclosure of interests of members................................................ 170

87.......... Meetings of Advisory Committee.................................................. 170

88.......... Travel allowance............................................................................. 171

Part VIII—Obligations of confidence                                                                      172

89.......... Obligations of confidence to which Part applies............................ 172

90.......... Application of Part......................................................................... 172

91.......... Effect of Part on other laws............................................................ 172

92.......... Extension of certain obligations of confidence................................ 173

93.......... Relief for breach etc. of certain obligations of confidence.............. 173

94.......... Jurisdiction of courts...................................................................... 173

Part IX—Miscellaneous                                                                                                  174

95.......... Medical research guidelines............................................................ 174

95A....... Guidelines for National Privacy Principles about health information 174

95B....... Requirements for Commonwealth contracts.................................. 176

95C....... Disclosure of certain provisions of Commonwealth contracts....... 176

96.......... Non‑disclosure of private information........................................... 177

97.......... Annual report................................................................................. 178

98.......... Injunctions...................................................................................... 179

99.......... Delegation....................................................................................... 180

99A....... Conduct of directors, employees and agents.................................. 181

100........ Regulations..................................................................................... 182

Part X—Amendments of other Acts                                                                         184

101........ Amendments of other Acts............................................................ 184

Schedule 1—Amendments of other Acts                                                               185

Schedule 2—Interim guidelines concerning the collection, storage, use and security of tax file number information                                                                                                           186

Introduction................................................................................................... 186

1............ General............................................................................................ 186

2............ Collection of tax file number information....................................... 187

3............ Storage and security of tax file number information....................... 187

4............ Use and disclosure of tax file number information......................... 188

5............ Publicity......................................................................................... 188

6............ Cessation of employment and investment..................................... 189

7............ Meaning of terms in interim guidelines........................................... 189

Schedule 3—National Privacy Principles                                                              190

1............ Collection........................................................................................ 190

2............ Use and disclosure.......................................................................... 191

3............ Data quality.................................................................................... 194

4............ Data security.................................................................................. 195

5............ Openness........................................................................................ 195

6............ Access and correction..................................................................... 195

7............ Identifiers........................................................................................ 197

8............ Anonymity..................................................................................... 198

9............ Transborder data flows................................................................... 198

10.......... Sensitive information...................................................................... 199

Notes                                                                                                                                          203


An Act to make provision to protect the privacy of individuals, and for related purposes

WHEREAS Australia is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the English text of which is set out in Schedule 2 to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986:

AND WHEREAS, by that Covenant, Australia has undertaken to adopt such legislative measures as may be necessary to give effect to the right of persons not to be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with their privacy, family, home or correspondence:

AND WHEREAS Australia is a member of the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development:

AND WHEREAS the Council of that Organisation has recommended that member countries take into account in their domestic legislation the principles concerning the protection of privacy and individual liberties set forth in Guidelines annexed to the recommendation:

AND WHEREAS Australia has informed that Organisation that it will participate in the recommendation concerning those Guidelines:

BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:

 

Part IPreliminary

  

1  Short title [see Note 1]

                   This Act may be cited as the Privacy Act 1988.

2  Commencement [see Note 1]

                   This Act commences on a day to be fixed by Proclamation.

3  Saving of certain State and Territory laws

                   It is the intention of the Parliament that this Act is not to affect the operation of a law of a State or of a Territory that makes provision with respect to the collection, holding, use, correction, disclosure or transfer of personal information (including such a law relating to credit reporting or the use of information held in connection with credit reporting) and is capable of operating concurrently with this Act.

Note:          Such a law can have effect for the purposes of the provisions of the National Privacy Principles that regulate the handling of personal information by organisations by reference to the effect of other laws.

3A  Application of the Criminal Code

                   Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code (except Part 2.5) applies to all offences against this Act.

Note:          Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility.

4  Act to bind the Crown

             (1)  This Act binds the Crown in right of the Commonwealth, of each of the States, of the Australian Capital Territory, of the Northern Territory and of Norfolk Island.

             (2)  Nothing in this Act renders the Crown in right of the Commonwealth, of a State, of the Australian Capital Territory, of the Northern Territory or of Norfolk Island liable to be prosecuted for an offence.

             (3)  Nothing in this Act shall be taken to have the effect of making the Crown in right of a State, of the Australian Capital Territory, of the Northern Territory or of Norfolk Island an agency for the purposes of this Act.

5  Interpretation of Information Privacy Principles

                   For the purposes of the interpretation of the Information Privacy Principles, each Information Privacy Principle shall be treated as if it were a section of this Act.

5A  Extension to external Territories

                   This Act extends to all external Territories.

5B  Extra‑territorial operation of Act

Application to overseas acts and practices of organisations

             (1)  This Act (except Divisions 4 and 5 of Part III and Part IIIA) and approved privacy codes extend to an act done, or practice engaged in, outside Australia and the external Territories by an organisation if:

                     (a)  subject to subsection (1A), the act or practice relates to personal information about an Australian citizen or a person whose continued presence in Australia is not subject to a limitation as to time imposed by law; and

                     (b)  the requirements of subsection (2) or (3) are met.

Note:          The act or practice overseas will not breach a National Privacy Principle or approved privacy code or be an interference with the privacy of an individual if the act or practice is required by an applicable foreign law. See sections 6A, 6B and 13A.

          (1A)  Paragraph (1)(a) does not apply in relation to National Privacy Principle 9.

Note:          Because of subsection (1A), the extra‑territorial application of National Privacy Principle 9 is not limited by the citizenship etc. requirement of paragraph (1)(a).

Organisational link with Australia

             (2)  The organisation must be:

                     (a)  an Australian citizen; or

                     (b)  a person whose continued presence in Australia is not subject to a limitation as to time imposed by law; or

                     (c)  a partnership formed in Australia or an external Territory; or

                     (d)  a trust created in Australia or an external Territory; or

                     (e)  a body corporate incorporated in Australia or an external Territory; or

                      (f)  an unincorporated association that has its central management and control in Australia or an external Territory.

Other link with Australia

             (3)  All of the following conditions must be met:

                     (a)  the organisation is not described in subsection (2);

                     (b)  the organisation carries on business in Australia or an external Territory;

                     (c)  the personal information was collected or held by the organisation in Australia or an external Territory, either before or at the time of the act or practice.

Power to deal with complaints about overseas acts and practices

             (4)  Part V of this Act has extra‑territorial operation so far as that Part relates to complaints and investigation concerning acts and practices to which this Act extends because of subsection (1).

Note:          This lets the Commissioner take action overseas to investigate complaints and lets the ancillary provisions of Part V operate in that context.


 

Part IIInterpretation

  

6  Interpretation

             (1)  In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

ACC means the Australian Crime Commission.

ACT enactment has the same meaning as enactment has in the Australian Capital Territory (Self‑Government) Act 1988.

agency means:

                     (a)  a Minister; or

                     (b)  a Department; or

                     (c)  a body (whether incorporated or not), or a tribunal, established or appointed for a public purpose by or under a Commonwealth enactment, not being:

                              (i)  an incorporated company, society or association; or

                             (ii)  an organisation within the meaning of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904 or a branch of such an organisation; or

                     (d)  a body established or appointed by the Governor‑General, or by a Minister, otherwise than by or under a Commonwealth enactment; or

                     (e)  a person holding or performing the duties of an office established by or under, or an appointment made under, a Commonwealth enactment, other than a person who, by virtue of holding that office, is the Secretary of a Department; or

                      (f)  a person holding or performing the duties of an appointment, being an appointment made by the Governor‑General, or by a Minister, otherwise than under a Commonwealth enactment; or

                     (g)  a federal court; or

                     (h)  the Australian Federal Police; or

                      (i)  an eligible case manager; or

                      (j)  the nominated AGHS company; or

                     (k)  an eligible hearing service provider.

annual turnover of a business has the meaning given by section 6DA.

approved privacy code means:

                     (a)  a privacy code approved by the Commissioner under section 18BB; or

                     (b)  a privacy code approved by the Commissioner under section 18BB with variations approved by the Commissioner under section 18BD.

bank means:

                     (a)  the Reserve Bank of Australia; or

                     (b)  a body corporate that is an ADI (authorised deposit‑taking institution) for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959; or

                     (c)  a person who carries on State banking within the meaning of paragraph 51(xiii) of the Constitution.

Board of the ACC means the Board of the Australian Crime Commission established under section 7B of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002.

breach an approved privacy code has the meaning given by section 6B.

breach an Information Privacy Principle has a meaning affected by subsection 6(2).

breach a National Privacy Principle has the meaning given by section 6A.

class member, in relation to a representative complaint, means any of the persons on whose behalf the complaint was lodged, but does not include a person who has withdrawn under section 38B.

code complaint means a complaint about an act or practice that, if established, would be an interference with the privacy of the complainant because it breached an approved privacy code.

Code of Conduct means the Code of Conduct issued under section 18A.

commercial credit means a loan sought or obtained by a person, other than a loan of a kind referred to in the definition of credit in this subsection.

Commissioner means the Privacy Commissioner.

Commissioner of Police means the Commissioner of Police appointed under the Australian Federal Police Act 1979.

Commonwealth contract means a contract, to which the Commonwealth or an agency is or was a party, under which services are to be, or were to be, provided to an agency.

Note:          See also subsection (9) about provision of services to an agency.

Commonwealth enactment means:

                     (a)  an Act other than:

                              (i)  the Northern Territory (Self‑Government) Act 1978; or

                             (ii)  an Act providing for the administration or government of an external Territory; or

                            (iii)  the Australian Capital Territory (Self‑Government) Act 1988;

                     (b)  an Ordinance of the Australian Capital Territory;

                     (c)  an instrument (including rules, regulations or by‑laws) made under an Act to which paragraph (a) applies or under an Ordinance to which paragraph (b) applies; or

                     (d)  any other legislation that applies as a law of the Commonwealth (other than legislation in so far as it is applied by an Act referred to in subparagraph (a)(i) or (ii)) or as a law of the Australian Capital Territory, to the extent that it operates as such a law.

Commonwealth officer means a person who holds office under, or is employed by, the Commonwealth, and includes:

                     (a)  a person appointed or engaged under the Public Service Act 1999;

                     (b)  a person (other than a person referred to in paragraph (a)) permanently or temporarily employed by, or in the service of, an agency;

                     (c)  a member of the Defence Force; and

                     (d)  a member, staff member or special member of the Australian Federal Police;

but does not include a person permanently or temporarily employed in the Australian Capital Territory Government Service or in the Public Service of the Northern Territory or of Norfolk Island.

consent means express consent or implied consent.

contracted service provider, for a government contract, means:

                     (a)  an organisation that is or was a party to the government contract and that is or was responsible for the provision of services to an agency or a State or Territory authority under the government contract; or

                     (b)  a subcontractor for the government contract.

corporation means a body corporate that:

                     (a)  is a foreign corporation;

                     (b)  is a trading corporation formed within the limits of Australia or is a financial corporation so formed; or

                     (c)  is incorporated in a Territory, other than the Northern Territory.

credit means a loan sought or obtained by an individual from a credit provider in the course of the credit provider carrying on a business or undertaking as a credit provider, being a loan that is intended to be used wholly or primarily for domestic, family or household purposes.

credit card means any article of a kind commonly known as a credit card, charge card or any similar article intended for use in obtaining cash, goods or services by means of loans, and includes any article of a kind commonly issued by persons carrying on business to customers or prospective customers of those persons for use in obtaining goods or services from those persons by means of loans.

credit enhancement, in relation to a loan, means:

                     (a)  the process of insuring risk associated with purchasing or funding the loan by means of a securitisation arrangement; or

                     (b)  any other similar process related to purchasing or funding the loan by those means.

credit information file, in relation to an individual, means any record that contains information relating to the individual and is kept by a credit reporting agency in the course of carrying on a credit reporting business (whether or not the record is a copy of the whole or part of, or was prepared using, a record kept by another credit reporting agency or any other person).

credit provider has the meaning given by section 11B, and, for the purposes of sections 7 and 8 and Parts III, IV and V, is taken to include a mortgage insurer and a trade insurer.

credit report means any record or information, whether in a written, oral or other form, that:

                     (a)  is being or has been prepared by a credit reporting agency; and

                     (b)  has any bearing on an individual’s:

                              (i)  eligibility to be provided with credit; or

                             (ii)  history in relation to credit; or

                            (iii)  capacity to repay credit; and

                     (c)  is used, has been used or has the capacity to be used for the purpose of serving as a factor in establishing an individual’s eligibility for credit.

credit reporting agency has the meaning given by section 11A.

credit reporting business means a business or undertaking (other than a business or undertaking of a kind in respect of which regulations made for the purposes of subsection (5C) are in force) that involves the preparation or maintenance of records containing personal information relating to individuals (other than records in which the only personal information relating to individuals is publicly available information), for the purpose of, or for purposes that include as the dominant purpose the purpose of, providing to other persons (whether for profit or reward or otherwise) information on an individual’s:

                     (a)  eligibility to be provided with credit; or

                     (b)  history in relation to credit; or

                     (c)  capacity to repay credit;

whether or not the information is provided or intended to be provided for the purposes of assessing applications for credit.

credit reporting complaint means a complaint about an act or practice that, if established, would be an interference with the privacy of the complainant because:

                     (a)  it breached the Code of Conduct; or

                     (b)  it breached a provision of Part IIIA.

credit reporting infringement means:

                     (a)  a breach of the Code of Conduct; or

                     (b)  a breach of a provision of Part IIIA.

current credit provider, in relation to an individual, means a credit provider who has given, to the individual, credit that has not yet been fully repaid or otherwise fully discharged.

Defence Force includes the Australian Navy Cadets, the Australian Army Cadets and the Australian Air Force Cadets.

Department means an Agency within the meaning of the Public Service Act 1999.

eligible case manager means an entity (within the meaning of the Employment Services Act 1994):

                     (a)  that is, or has at any time been, a contracted case manager within the meaning of that Act; and