Privacy Policy
The Law Reform Commission of Western Australia (LRCWA) is established under the Law Reform Commission Act 1972 (WA) (LRC Act). The Attorney General for Western Australia may at any time refer to the LRCWA a proposal for a review of any area of the law with a view to reform. The LRCWA’s role is to critically examine the law with respect to the referred matter and make recommendations to the Attorney General as to whether and how the law should be reformed, and whether new methods for the administration of that law should be developed.
In doing so, the LRCWA seeks to inform itself by inviting members of the community to make submissions, or participate in consultations, about how the law in relation to that matter affects them, and whether, and how, reform is required.
The LRCWA engages external contractors to assist it in writing, researching, and consulting about the matter the subject of its inquiry. It is also provided with administrative support by officers of the Department of Justice (DoJ).
Legislative framework
In conducting its work, the LRCWA is subject to the LRC Act, and to other legislation including the Privacy and Responsible Information Sharing Act 2024 (WA) (PRIS Act). The PRIS Act seeks to protect the privacy of personal information which may be collected and disclosed by the entities to which it applies.
This privacy policy primarily deals with the requirements of the PRIS Act in its application to the LRCWA.
The PRIS Act contains a number of definitions about the kinds of information to which it applies.
Personal Information means information or opinions relating to an individual whose identity is apparent or can reasonably be ascertained from that information or opinion. This includes information like names, dates of birth and addresses.
Sensitive Personal Information means personal information related to a person’s racial, ethnic, gender, sexual, political, religious, and philosophical identity or practices. It also refers to information about a person’s union, professional or trade association membership, criminal records, and health, genetic, genomic, or biometric information. This information is subject to additional privacy protections under the PRIS Act.
Health Information means sensitive personal information that relates to a person’s health or disability. It also includes information about health services and preferences for future healthcare.
Information Collection and Use
The LRCWA invites members of the public and community and other groups to make submissions or participate in consultation. There is no obligation on them to do so. If they decide to do so, they may provide personal information identifying themselves as the author of their submission (such as their name and email address). They may also provide the LRCWA with other personal information such as how their life experiences, or the experiences of others, informs their response.
There is no requirement to provide any of this information.
If a person does not identify themselves as the author of a submission, or in describing their first hand experience of the operation of a law, the LRCWA’s use of that information may be limited. For example, the LRCWA may be unable to contact the author of the submission to clarify something in the submission.
In addition, the LRCWA collects personal information to use in carrying out its work, or because the law requires it. This information includes, for example:
- information about its staff and about any third parties engaged by the LRCWA under contract to assist it in writing, researching and consulting about matters for possible law reform. This information may include identity checks and criminal history screening; and
- contact details of members of the public who write to the LRCWA about its work.
Disclosure
The LRCWA does not share personal, sensitive and health information with other agencies or organisations.
In its final reports the LRCWA lists the persons with whom it consulted and who provided submissions, except if they ask to remain confidential.
Sometimes the LRCWA may also wish to refer to or quote from a submission made by a member of the public in one of its publications about law reform. It will not do so in a way which identifies that person without first obtaining their express consent to do so.
Consent to the use and disclosure of personal information provided to the LRCWA
If a person provides the LRCWA with personal information, including by identifying themselves when making a submission or participating in consultation, the LRCWA will regard them as consenting to the use and any disclosure of that information in the ways described above. Similarly, if a person provides the LRCWA with personal information about another individual, such as an example of that individual's first hand experience, the LRCWA will regard them as having the consent of that other individual to provide that information to the LRCWA.
The LRCWA will only share information for reasons other than those described above when:
- the LRCWA is legally required to provide it; or
- the person involved has given informed consent for the information to be shared.
Exemptions from privacy legislation
In some situations, the LRCWA does not have to follow privacy requirements, such as when:
- it is reasonably necessary for law enforcement;
- another law gives specific directions on how the information must be managed;
or - the information is already publicly available.
Storage and Protection
The LRCWA keeps personal information secure and manages it according to the State Records Act 2000 (WA). Records are stored, protected, and disposed of based on their sensitivity, with safeguards to prevent unauthorised access, misuse, disclosure, or loss.
Accessing or correcting personal information
A person has a right to access personal information held by government agencies, including the LRCWA. They can also ask the LRCWA to correct information they believe is inaccurate, incomplete, outdated, or misleading.
To request access or a correction, a written application must be made to the LRCWA’s Privacy Officer.
How to make a privacy complaint
If a person is not satisfied with how the LRCWA has collected, held, used or disclosed their personal information, they can make a written complaint to the LRCWA’s Privacy Officer. The complaint should include a short description of their privacy concern and their preferred contact details so the Privacy Officer can contact them about the complaint.
If the complaint is not resolved to their satisfaction, the person may direct their complaint to the Information Commissioner by email: info@oic.wa.gov.au.
How to contact the LRCWA’s Privacy Officer
Please contact the LRCWA’s Privacy Officer to request access to or correct personal information held by the LRCWA or to make a privacy complaint.
Email: lrcwa@justice.wa.gov.au
The LRCWA reviews this policy regularly and it may be updated from time to time.
This policy was last updated on: 30 June 2026 (v.1).
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