Special Minister of State, Senator The Hon John Faulkner has outlined in a speech the steps Australia is taking to ensure organisations provide protections to personal information sent off-shore.

As part of its work on the APEC Data Privacy Sub-Group Australia, through the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, is working on eight specific projects covering issues ranging from the
development of self-assessment tools for businesses to the role of
regulators in ensuring businesses are held accountable for the handling
of personal information.

The projects will produce a privacy contact officers directory,
templates to assist in making cooperative arrangements between privacy
enforcement authorities in our region, and a common complaint handling form to
promote the timely handling and referral of cross-border privacy
complaints.