Media release: Make privacy a priority this Privacy Awareness Week and beyond
Privacy Awareness Week will be held from 3-9 May 2021 and Queenslanders are being urged to make privacy a priority everyday – a timely message given the increased use of technology and devices during the response to COVID-19.
Queensland Privacy Commissioner, Phil Green, said knowing how to protect your personal information was as valuable as the information itself.
“We live in a digital world with more services available online and our digital footprints are expanding,” Mr Green said.
“It’s important for people to be privacy-aware, look out for themselves and those who might be less tech-savvy, including children and seniors.
“The theme for Privacy Awareness Week or PAW this year is Make privacy a priority.
“Being constantly connected through technology increases the amount of data, or personal information, that’s collected about us,” Mr Green explained.
“We’re encouraging the Queensland public sector and the community to follow simple tips to respect and protect personal information.
“After all, PAW is a great reminder for Queenslanders to be privacy-aware in many aspects of their lives at work, at home or in the community.”
The launch of Privacy Awareness Week 2021 will take place on Tuesday 4 May at The Edge, State Library of Queensland.
Presentations will include a keynote from the Crime and Corruption Commission’s Chairperson, Mr Alan MacSporran QC, as well as Queensland’s Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, The Hon. Shannon Fentiman MP, and Queensland’s Privacy Commissioner.
The launch event is free and available to attend in-person or via the livestream.
Community expectations about information privacy are high and increasing. In 2020, 70% of Australians said they consider protection of their personal information to be a major concern in their life. 83% want government to do more to protect the privacy of their data.[1]
The OIC has also released a range of resources to help raise privacy awareness among public sector staff across Queensland and encourage agencies to implement a privacy by design approach to all projects and new initiatives.
The resources support recommendations made in the CCC’s 2020 report Operation Impala – A report into misuse of confidential information in the Queensland public sectorwhich help foster a privacy-aware workplace culture in Queensland government agencies, including:
comprehensive employee awareness messaging and training
embedding Privacy Champions at a senior level in agencies, to incorporate Privacy by Design in executive decision-making processes
implementing a mandatory data breach notification scheme, technical controls and other specific risk management tools.
More information is available at www.oic.qld.gov.au/paw2021.
[1] 2020 Australian Community Attitudes to Privacy Survey — OAIC
Media contact: Mr Steve Haigh, Manager Training and Stakeholder Relations
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