The government’s decision to significantly defund the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) is troubling as “the privacy functions of the OAIC have arguably never been more important, and it has now been tasked with an even greater responsibility to oversee parts of the mandatory data retention scheme,” The Guardian reports. Those behind the scenes argue the shortage of funding stems from government displeasure with freedom of information. Regardless, Privacy Commissioner Timothy Pilgrim argues that although “the team (is) somewhat diminished in size” it is “no less committed, is now doing more than ever … to enforce Australians’ privacy and freedom of information rights,” the report states. Meanwhile, the OAIC plans to release telecommunication companies’ audit results.
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