The Federal Government has announced plans to strengthen pre-existing privacy laws in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the UK.

 

Federal Privacy Minister Brendan O’Connor said that the Federal Government was considering introducing statutory cause of action for serious breaches of personal privacy.

 

The move comes as the Federal Greens have upped their push for a parliamentary inquiry into media ownership laws in Australia, with Greens leader Senator Bob Brown criticising the lack of transparency in the Australian media and the limited media ownership.

 

Mr O’Connor has admitted the lack of a general right to privacy in Australia is a worrying aspect in Australian law.

 

"Right now there is no general right to privacy in Australia,"  Mr O’Connor said "That means there's no certainty for anyone wanting to sue for an invasion of their privacy."

 

The Federal Government plans to publish an issues paper in the coming months which will likely contain a public comment period.