🇦🇺 Privacy Act 1988 & Australian Privacy Principles

Australia Privacy Act Redaction

AI-powered redaction to protect personal information under Australian law. Meet your APP obligations and avoid OAIC enforcement.

$50M
Maximum OAIC Penalty (AUD)
1,113
Notifiable Breaches (2023-24)
30 Days
Access Request Deadline

What the Privacy Act Requires

The Privacy Act 1988 and the 13 Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) set out how organisations must handle personal information. Proper redaction is essential for meeting several APP obligations.

APP 12: Access Requests

Individuals can request access to their personal information. When providing access, you must redact information about other identifiable individuals unless they've consented.

APP 6: Use & Disclosure

Personal information can only be used or disclosed for the primary purpose it was collected, or a related secondary purpose. Redaction allows sharing documents while limiting disclosure.

APP 11: Security

Organisations must take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access or disclosure. Redaction before sharing is a key protective measure.

APP 11.2: Destruction

When personal information is no longer needed, it must be destroyed or de-identified. Redaction can de-identify documents that must be retained for other purposes.

Personal Information to Redact

Standard Personal Information

  • Names and signatures
  • Residential addresses
  • Email addresses
  • Phone numbers
  • Tax File Numbers (TFN)
  • Medicare numbers
  • Driver licence numbers
  • Bank account details

Sensitive Information

  • Health information
  • Racial or ethnic origin
  • Political opinions
  • Religious beliefs
  • Sexual orientation
  • Criminal record
  • Trade union membership
  • Biometric data

2022-2024 Privacy Act Reforms

Australia significantly strengthened its privacy regime following major data breaches at Optus and Medibank. The reforms dramatically increased penalties and expanded enforcement powers.

Increased Maximum Penalties

  • Before 2022: $2.22 million maximum for serious or repeated breaches
  • After 2022: The greater of $50 million, three times the benefit obtained, or 30% of adjusted turnover

The Medibank breach affected 9.7 million Australians and led to these reforms. OAIC enforcement is expected to increase.

How SafeRedact Helps

AI Detection

Automatically identifies TFNs, Medicare numbers, addresses, and other personal information in your documents.

Permanent Removal

Data is permanently removed—not just covered. Meets APP 11.2 de-identification requirements.

Fast Processing

Meet 30-day access request deadlines with automated detection and batch processing.

Protect Personal Information. Meet APP Obligations.

AI-powered redaction for Australian Privacy Act compliance. Start free—no credit card required.

Start Redacting Free