Information and Privacy Commission in NSW operative from 1 January.

The Information and Privacy Commission in NSW is formally up and running from 1 January, bringing together the existing Office of the Information Commissioner and Privacy New South Wales (media release).

Here is an earlier post on the legislation that Parliament passed in September. 

The  Privacy and Government Information Legislation Amendment Act 2010 No 71  also

• establishes formal consultation arrangements between the information and privacy commissioners, 

• broadens existing oversight of the Information Commissioner by a parliamentary committee to the Privacy Commissioner, 

• brings procedures for the appointment and dismissal of the Privacy Commissioner in line with those relating to the Information Commissioner,

•  addresses a previous oversight in the GIPA act that meant there were two different schemes for applications to amend personal information, and

•  creates an advisory committee to both commissioners.