Aussie Farms officially looked into under Privacy Act

CONTROVERSIAL animal activist group Aussie Farms is being probed to see whether it breaches the Privacy Act.

Targets: Animal activist group Aussie Farms released a map to track farms.

CONTROVERSIAL animal activist group Aussie Farms is being probed to see whether it breaches the Privacy Act.

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner told The Weekly Times it was now “conducting inquiries with Aussie Farms to establish whether or not they are operating in compliance with the Act”.

It comes after a Federal Government move to bring Aussie Farms under the Act last week, from which it used to be exempt.

The registered charity will now face up to $420,000 in penalties if it breaches the Act.

ACTIVISTS GO FROM COURT TO PROTEST

Until Saturday, Aussie Farms was exempt from the Act because its annual turnover was less than $3 million, but it will now need to comply regardless of its turnover.

The OAIC recommended people with specific privacy concerns contact Aussie Farms directly first, and then contact the OAIC if they are not satisfied with the response.

“The Privacy Act confers on the Commissioner a range of privacy regulatory powers, including powers that allow the OAIC to work with entities to facilitate legal compliance and best privacy practice, and investigative and enforcement powers,” an OIAC spokeswoman said.

“The OAIC can also consider a complaint from an individual about a potential interference with their privacy.”

ACTIVIST FINED $1 FOR BIOSECURITY BREACH

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud again called on state governments to beef-up trespass laws saying, “Federally, we’ve done our bit”.

“We’ve brought Aussie Farms and its attack map for activists under the Privacy Act so that misuse of personal information results in enormous fines,” he said.

“Now the states must beef-up trespass laws so serious penalties apply for invading farms.”