This Part establishes the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner consists of the information officers and the staff of the Office.

The information officers are the Information Commissioner, the Freedom of Information Commissioner and the Privacy Commissioner. The Information Commissioner is the head of the Office (for the purposes of the Public Service Act 1999 ).

The functions of the Office are as follows:

  (a)   the freedom of information functions, which are about giving the Australian community access to information held by the Commonwealth Government in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (and other Acts);

  (b)   the privacy functions, which are mainly about protecting the privacy of individuals in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (and other Acts);

  (c)   the information commissioner functions, which are strategic functions concerning information management by the Commonwealth Government.

All of the information officers may perform the freedom of information functions and the privacy functions.

Only the Information Commissioner can perform the information commissioner functions.