What’s involved?
The flip side is that other people have access to your personal information. Your contact details shouldn't be for sale, you have the right to keep some things private. Here're some ways you can take action on this issue:
Things to Do
1. Be open and honest in your dealings with other people.
2. Support or get involved in alternative forms of media, including student/community radio, television, newspapers and magazines. The National Student Media is a good place to start. http://www.studentmedia.org.au
3. If you're asked to give your contact details when you're buying something (e.g. a ticket to an event) ask if it's necessary, and if it's not, don't do it.
4. Read the fine print. Sometimes you need to have a squiz at all those little words before signing a contract to make sure you're not agreeing to sharing your details. If you're not sure about what it says, ask. You're within your rights to do so.
5. Talk to the authorities that are withholding the info you want (e.g. your school principal, a government department or the police). Find out why you can't have access to records. The National Association of Community Legal Centres has a list of places that can let you know your rights. http://www.naclc.org.au/directory/centres.html
6. Say 'no' to loyalty programs. Cancel what you've got and don't sign up for more.
7. Get talking to your friends about access to information and let them know their rights. They can decide who has access to their information.
8. If you want to know more about something and you don't have access to the info, send an email to the relevant authority and ask why. You could also send an email as a 'letter to the editor' to a big newspaper and let other people read what you have to say.
9. Keep up-to-date with freedom of information news at http://www.foi.law.utas.edu.au.
10. Word yourself up. Read about the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act at http://www.ag.gov.au/www/agdHome.nsf/HeadingPagesD...
Why should people do this?
