New laws are being set up to regulate the handling of personal information by Public Service Agencies and contractors in the ACT.

The changes were announced by Attorney-General Simon Corbell, who says the new Information Privacy Bill 2014 will establish a clear and robust privacy framework for the Territory.

The new bill replaces the old measure, based on a modified form of the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988.

It says agencies must protect privacy through transparency.

“This bill strikes a balance between protecting personal information and ensuring that the Government is able to continue to provide quality services,” Mr Corbell said.

The bill’s new Territory Privacy Principles are in line with recently-introduced Australian Privacy Principles. The changes regulate the handling of personal information by Australian Government Agencies and related private contractors, but extra provision have been made to fit ACT circumstances.

“This bill commits public sector Agencies to promote responsible handling of personal information, supported by a robust and accessible complaints resolution mechanism including a new power for the Information Privacy Commissioner to report to me any instances of a serious or repeated breach of privacy,'” Mr Corbell said.

“I must then table that report into the Assembly.”

The ACT Attorney-General said Agencies must have clear policies and practices to govern sensitive information, public access and correct data management.

“The Information Privacy Bill provides the framework for this to happen,” he said.