Towards an Australian Law of Privacy: The Arguments For and Against
Communications Law Bulletin, Vol. 31, No. 4, pp. 9-14, 2012
14 Pages Posted: 20 Nov 2012
Date Written: November 20, 2012
Abstract
The Australian Law Reform Commission recently recommended the introduction of a statutory cause of action for serious invasion of privacy. Following the revelation of the News of the World phone-hacking scandal and in an environment where concerns had been raised about the efficacy of existing media regulation, the Australian Government conducted a consultation process about whether this proposed reform should be enacted. The consultation process elicited strong views for and against a statutory cause of action. This article analyses the various arguments advanced by supporters and opponents. In doing so, it provides the most current analysis of the state of the debate in Australia about privacy protection.
Keywords: privacy, Australia, law reform, technology, human rights, freedom of expression
JEL Classification: K10, K30
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation