Consumers, ALRC privacy principles and the 2010 Healthcare Identifiers Act

Aspects of the 2010 Healthcare Identifiers Act (HIA) are compared to the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) Unified Privacy Principles. The opportunity for improved healthcare delivery through the enabling healthcare identifiers is acknowledged and discussion moves beyond such justifications to consideration of broader implications for Australian society. Law Academic Roger Magnusson’s three broad, sequential conceptual shifts in health privacy provide a framework for the discussion. Lost opportunities for Australian consumers are also highlighted.