Media release: Back to basics for Privacy Awareness Week 2023

Queenslanders are being encouraged to get back to basics this Privacy Awareness Week (celebrated from 1-7 May 2023), because it’s the perfect time for a refresher in all the simple things we can do to protect our privacy and personal information.

Privacy Awareness Week, otherwise known as PAW, is an annual event celebrated around the world to remind people about privacy rights. This year’s PAW theme is Privacy 101: Back to basics.

Queensland’s Privacy Commissioner, Paxton Booth, said we can all get back to basics and take steps to protect privacy and personal information.

“For individuals this could be updating privacy settings on devices, reading terms and conditions, asking the right questions to agencies, not oversharing on social media and much more. We have plenty more tips on our website,” Mr Booth said.

“For public sector agencies, this might mean reviewing policies and procedures, doing a privacy self-assessment, incorporating privacy by design into all projects and core business activities, being upfront about why personal information is collected, and embedding a privacy aware culture.”

In Queensland, the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) runs an awareness campaign each year to help educate the community and public sector agencies about the importance of protecting and respecting personal information, whether it’s their own or someone else’s.

As part of this year’s PAW celebrations, the OIC this morning (2 May) hosted a launch event in Brisbane featuring a keynote from internet security expert Troy Hunt, who shared insights of what has caused some of the big data breaches and how they continue to impact people today.

Considering recent news events about data breaches and the compromised personal information of thousands of Australians, now – more than ever – individuals and agencies need to take important steps to help protect themselves from harm.

Mr Booth said Queensland is also facing a changing privacy landscape, with the Queensland Government committing to legislating a mandatory data breach notification scheme (one of the recommendations from the Coaldrake Review ‘Let the Sunshine In: Review of culture and accountability in the Queensland public sector’). The OIC welcomed the commitment, as it signals a significant change for privacy rights and responsibilities in the state.

For more information about Privacy Awareness Week including tips, resources and the Queensland launch event (keynote + panel discussion), please visit www.oic.qld.gov.au/paw2023

Media contact: Steve Haigh
Phone: (07) 3234 7373