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Reversing the decision of the Abbott government in 2015, the role of information and privacy commissioner will once again be split into two.
The split was announced back in May by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus.
“The Albanese government has today [27 November] delivered on our election commitment to fully restore the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) with the appointment of standalone privacy and freedom of information (FOI) commissioners,” wrote Dreyfus.
“For the first time since 2015, the OAIC will have a standalone FOI commissioner, privacy commissioner and information commissioner, as Parliament originally enacted.
“Unlike the Coalition, which sought to abolish the OAIC and refused to appoint standalone commissioners, the Albanese government takes seriously the privacy of Australians and freedom of information.”
While the role of information commissioner will be maintained by Angelene Falk, the role of standalone privacy commissioner will now be filled by the inaugural director of the Ada Lovelace Institute, Carly Kind.
Prior to this, Kind has experience as a consultant for world-leading international charities and organisations, including Amnesty International and UNICEF.
“Between 2015 and 2019, [Kind] was an independent consultant to a number of human rights organisations, trusts and foundations, international organisations and the private sector,” wrote Dreyfus.
“She has provided advice on legal, ethical and practical issues at the intersection of technology and human rights.”
Kind will take up the role of privacy commissioner on 26 February 2024. In the meantime, Falk will continue to operate the role as interim privacy commissioner.
Alongside the privacy commissioner, Dreyfus also announced the appointment of a new freedom of information (FOI) commissioner.
Information commissioner and CEO of the NSW Information and Privacy Commission Elizabeth Tydd has been selected to fill the role for a five-year term, commencing on 19 February 2024.
Tydd will be taking over for acting FOI commissioner, Toni Pirani.
“I congratulate Ms Tydd and Ms Kind on their appointments and thank them for taking on these important roles,” added Dreyfus.
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