On 13 August 2004 the Attorney-General announced the terms of reference for the review of the private sector provisions of the Privacy Act 1988 that came into effect in 2001 http://www.privacy.gov.au/news/media/04_18.html#tor

The Privacy Commissioner released an Issues Paper on (27 October 2004) http://www.privacy.gov.au/act/review/ispap2004.doc.

The AMA intends to lodge a submission by the due date of 22 December 2004. It will cover any changes to the National Privacy Principles (NPPs) seen by practitioners as necessary to ensure consistency of good privacy practice with good clinical practice, and other issues that affect doctors and patients.

We would like to hear your view on how the privacy legislation has operated and in particular about difficulties, if any, you and your patients have encountered with the application of the NPPs.

Please email your comments to privacy@ama.com.au by 10 December 2004