Attorney-general Mark Dreyfus says new standalone commissioner roles mark a serious commitment by Labor to FOI and privacy, data protection, AI policy and governance.
Elizabeth Tydd and Carly Kind have been picked as the new Freedom of Information (FOI) commissioner and privacy commissioner, respectively. Both appointments are for five years.
In a statement announcing the appointments, the A-G said this was the first time since 2015 that standalone roles for the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) were fulfilled as parliament had originally intended.
“Unlike the Coalition, which sought to abolish the OAIC and refused to appoint standalone commissioners, the Albanese government takes seriously the privacy of Australians and freedom of information,” Dreyfus said.
“I congratulate Ms Tydd and Ms Kind on their appointments and thank them for taking on these important roles.”
Tydd, whose appointment as FOI commissioner commences next February, is the CEO of the NSW Information and Privacy Commission. She has held that role along with the title of NSW information commissioner since 2013.
“Between 1997 and 2009, Ms Tydd held a number of senior roles at the NSW Department of Fair Trading, including assistant commissioner, compliance and legal group and deputy chairperson, Consumer Trade and Tenancy Tribunal,” Dreyfus said.
Kind is currently director of the Ada Lovelace Institute in London. She was an independent consultant to a number of human rights organisations, trusts and foundations, international organisations and the private sector between 2015 and 2019.
“Ms Kind brings to the Privacy Commissioner role expertise in data protection; AI policy, practice and governance; privacy; and technology law and policy,” Dreyfus said.
“She has provided advice on legal, ethical and practical issues at the intersection of technology and human rights.”
Kind will commence as privacy commissioner on 26 February 2024. Australian information commissioner Angeline Falk will continue serving as interim privacy commissioner until that time.
The A-G thanked Falk for her assistance with the revamped OAIC, as well as Toni Pirani, who has acted as FOI commissioner since May 2023.
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