Making the privacy commissioner a separate role is a step in the right direction but will fail unless the government adequately funds the position, says a former privacy commissioner.
Attorney-general Mark Dreyfus announced the government has opened recruitment for a standalone privacy commissioner, a role previously held as a dual role by the Australian information commissioner Angelene Falk.
Falk will continue as an information commissioner and head of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
Further, Toni Pirani will act as freedom of information commissioner from May 20, replacing Leo Hardiman who resigned, citing a lack of resources to manage the FOI workload.