Competence, children and privacy

The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) is currently reviewing the 'Privacy Act 1988' (Cth) and has released an issues paper relevant to that inquiry. As the ALRC notes, the privacy of children and young people 'has not received a great deal of attention and discussion as a separate issue in Australia'. Children are affected in many areas where information is gathered about them, with profound implications for their welfare and future lives. The issues paper identifies child welfare, juvenile justice and family law as areas where children's privacy issues are to the fore.