Be prepared for privacy!
Know your privacy obligations when sharing information in an emergency
Queensland is the most disaster impacted state in Australia, according to Get Ready Queensland, with more than 80 significant natural disaster events happening over the past decade.
Emergencies like bushfires, floods, cyclones and disease outbreaks can occur without notice. It’s important to be prepared, know your privacy obligations and understand the privacy flexibilities contained in the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld) (IP Act).
Knowing how to apply the flexibilities can help to protect the vulnerable and save lives.
But what are the flexibilities? And how can agencies be better prepared?
The IP Act contains protections and provisions for personal information held by Queensland public sector agencies. This includes flexibilities for dealing with personal information in an emergency. Some of these flexibilities include specific exemptions in the privacy principles governing secondary use and disclosure for situations where the health and safety of individuals may be at risk.
Agencies can prepare for privacy and sharing information in an emergency by developing an information sharing strategy. A strategy prepares agencies by:
- anticipating the situations that may result in requests for information
- establishing policies before an emergency occurs
- supporting staff to respond confidently and quickly to emergencies
- reducing the risk of personal information being handled inappropriately during an emergency
- ensuring agencies are mindful of other legislative provisions that may impact information sharing i.e. confidentiality provisions.
Being prepared for privacy, by understanding how to apply privacy flexibilities will assist agencies to respond confidently and quickly to save lives.
Resources to help agencies prepare for privacy
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Understand the privacy flexibilities
- Guideline on privacy and managing disaster events
- Privacy flexibility in disaster management - information sharing scenarios
Understand risk
- What is personal information
- Privacy and Public Data Audit Report
- Step-by-step guide to Privacy Impact Assessments
COVID-19
Need more help?
- call our enquires service on (07) 3234 7373 or 1800 642 753
- email enquiries@oic.qld.gov.au
- find out more about the Queensland Government's Get Ready campaign
