Privacy Law

Subject 730-698 (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points:
Level: Graduate/Postgraduate
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

April, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 24 - 26 contact hours per subject.
Total Time Commitment: The time commitment for this subject depends on the candidates background and experience.
Prerequisites: N.A.
Corequisites: N.A.
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements: N.A.

Coordinator

Mrs Karin Clark, Prof Megan Richardson
Subject Overview:

Objectives:

A student who has successfully completed this subject should:

  • Understand the rapidly evolving body of Australian law that recognises and protects ‘privacy’
  • Be able to evaluate Australia’s privacy law regime, drawing on relevant sources of law
  • Have a good understanding of the legal and policy issues involved with the protection of privacy at general law
  • Have a good understanding of the commonwealth and state regimes for regulating information privacy/data protection
  • Be able to demonstrate an awareness of the broader context of privacy regulation, involving discussion of policy issues, current debates and trends, and law reform in Australia.

Syllabus:

Principal topics will include:

  • What is privacy? (Conceptual and legal definitional issues)
  • International and comparative privacy and data-protection regimes
  • Protection of privacy at general law
  • The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the regulation of personal information held by the private and public sectors
  • State/territory (especially Victorian) legislative regimes for the regulation of personal information
  • Co-regulation, self-regulation and privacy codes of conduct
  • Privacy and the media
  • Privacy and health information (including genetic information)
  • Online privacy, including anti-spam laws
  • Telecommunications and surveillance privacy.
Assessment:
  • Seminar participation (10%) 
  • Take-home examination (90%) (29 May–1 June)
    or
    Research paper 8,000 words (90%) (16 July) (topic approved by the subject coordinator)
Prescribed Texts: Core subject materials will be provided free of charge to all students. Some subjects require further texts to be purchased. Please visit the subject homepage on the Melbourne Law Masters website by following the link at the bottom of this subject entry.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: Please see the Subject Objectives for this information.
Links to further information: 730-698Privacy LawMelbourne Law Masters, postgraduate law, post-graduate law, graduate law2009P

Objectives:

A student who has successfully completed this subject should:

  • Understand the rapidly evolving body of Australian law that recognises and protects ‘privacy’
  • Be able to evaluate Australia’s privacy law regime, drawing on relevant sources of law
  • Have a good understanding of the legal and policy issues involved with the protection of privacy at general law
  • Have a good understanding of the commonwealth and state regimes for regulating information privacy/data protection
  • Be able to demonstrate an awareness of the broader context of privacy regulation, involving discussion of policy issues, current debates and trends, and law reform in Australia.

Syllabus:

Principal topics will include:

  • What is privacy? (Conceptual and legal definitional issues)
  • International and comparative privacy and data-protection regimes
  • Protection of privacy at general law
  • The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the regulation of personal information held by the private and public sectors
  • State/territory (especially Victorian) legislative regimes for the regulation of personal information
  • Co-regulation, self-regulation and privacy codes of conduct
  • Privacy and the media
  • Privacy and health information (including genetic information)
  • Online privacy, including anti-spam laws
  • Telecommunications and surveillance privacy.
  • Seminar participation (10%) 
  • Take-home examination (90%) (29 May–1 June)
    or
    Research paper 8,000 words (90%) (16 July) (topic approved by the subject coordinator)
N.A. N.A.24 - 26 contact hours per subject.Core subject materials will be provided free of charge to all students. Some subjects require further texts to be purchased. Please visit the subject homepage on the Melbourne Law Masters website by following the link at the bottom of this subject entry.Please see the Subject Objectives for this information.The time commitment for this subject depends on the candidates background and experience.N.A.Please see the subject homepage on the Melbourne Law Masters website for up to date timetable information.Mrs Karin Clark, Prof Megan RichardsonLawLawNNNNParkvillePARKVILLEFor the latest information on this subject, please visit: http://www.masters.law.unimelb.edu.au/subject/730698730-6982April

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