JOURNALIST: Senator, a lot of reading there, isn't there?
FAULKNER: There is an awful lot of reading. In fact, as I said in launching the report, 295 recommendations. I even referred to the weight of the report, weighing in at 4.86 kilograms. So a lot of reading.
The President of the Australian Law Reform Commission thought that there might be only one Australian who'll read the whole report - well, we'll see about that. But it's certainly a huge amount of work done over a very long period of time, and it's weighty in every sense of the word.
JOURNALIST: What's the most significant recommendation?
JOHN FAULKNER: Look, I don't think it's a matter for me at this stage to identify one of the recommendations of the 295 of being the most significant. What I have indicated in my speech earlier is the focus the Government will be giving in terms of a staged response. I'd commend that to you as a very sensible way of dealing with such a substantial report, with so many recommendations.
I am concerned that if the Government was to wait for a whole of government response that dealt with all the recommendations in the ALRC report, it would take an inordinate period of time, which I'm sure people would appreciate. So the sensible thing for us is to deal with some key issues and deal with them as I've indicated in a staged approach, which I outlined a little earlier in my speech.
JOURNALIST: [Indistinct] One of the recommendations has to do with the political parties losing their exemption. Will political parties accept that?
JOHN FAULKNER: Well, that's perhaps better to ask political parties than of me. But it's certainly one of those issues that I didn't identify as being dealt with in the first stage of the report. In our first stage of our response. I did indicate that those exemptions will be dealt with in the second stage. Now as far as political parties are concerned, well, that's a matter for them. My...
JOURNALIST: But you're obviously a member of a political party...
JOHN FAULKNER: Of course …
QUESTION: ... and so, how will...
JOHN FAULKNER: Most, but not all, politicians in Australia are members of political parties, that is true. But...
JOURNALIST: Yeah, so presumably you have some view on whether political parties should lose their exemption...
JOHN FAULKNER: Well, what I don't do is respond on behalf of a political party at a media conference like this. What I'm doing here is representing the Australian Government as the responsible minister.
Of course, political parties are going to have views. It's my responsibility as minister to deal with the recommendations of the ALRC in a sensible and appropriate way. I've outlined the process that the Government is going to adopt and the political parties, and others in the community will have views about that issue and the issue more broadly, of exemptions.
But I can assure you that my responsibility here is not to come forward as a representative of a political party. That's certainly not a hat I'm wearing. I'm talking to you today as the responsible minister and it's - and that is the way that I'll be dealing with the recommendations from the ALRC.
JOURNALIST: Senator, new technologies are providing massive new challenges, ongoing challenges. Is that something where legislation is needed rapidly?
JOHN FAULKNER: Well certainly, I've indicated that in the first stage of our reforms, that matter's squarely on the table. And I can certainly indicate to you that our approach will be to having identify those areas which I indicated earlier would be the first stage of our response.
The recommendations relating to unified privacy principles, health and credit reporting regulations and then more broadly, improving education about the impact on privacy by new technologies. Those are the issues that the Government will be giving a priority to in the first stage of its response.
JOURNALIST: In terms of the uniform principles, are the other states going to come onboard, and will that mean that they'll have to change their legislation as well?
JOHN FAULKNER: Well certainly, there is need here for harmonisation. And I'm confident that with the processes that are currently in train through COAG, that we'll be able to work very cooperatively with other levels of government, the Commonwealth working cooperatively with both State and Territory Governments.
JOURNALIST: How will these recommendations change the way the media can report in Australia?
JOHN FAULKNER: What the UPPs?
JOURNALIST: No, no. The section on media reportage and privacy.
JOHN FAULKNER: Well, in relation to that particular matter, I know is of considerable interest to members of the fourth estate, let me say this. I'll certainly be talking to my colleagues about that issue, it is obviously a matter that I want to talk to my Cabinet colleagues about. I've indicated, and I'll say it again so we're very, very clear about this, that I am not progressing that recommendation at this stage. Let me say clearly that matter is not a priority for me, but it is something that I will speak to my colleagues about.
JOURNALIST: Minister, do you think at the end of this process, Australians will be more confident that their privacy will be guaranteed?
JOHN FAULKNER: Well look, I certainly hope so, but more strongly than that, I think I can say to you that I certainly believe so. The Government's priority, our determination is to bring our privacy laws into the 21st century. And of course, here there's always a balance. There's always a balance. The capacity for businesses to collect, store, use and of course, even sell large amounts of information, I think has real concerns in the community.
There are also concerns about government use of private information. I say to you as I'm sure you're all well aware when you see the weighty tome, the weighty report before you, that this is a very complex area of law. Our challenge as a government is to get the reforms right. That's what our challenge is. And as the responsible minister, I can assure you that's what I'm committed to doing.
And I can say - and I've just been given the wind up, but I might say this, just so everyone's clear on this. My priority is to get these reforms right. I don't want to necessarily do this at breakneck speed, but I certainly do want to ensure that we get the best possible privacy laws for Australia for the 21st century. That's our commitment and that's what I believe we'll deliver on.
Thanks very much.
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