10.2.1.1 — The Act has three spheres of operation:

• to protect personal information which is collected by Australian Government departments and agencies.
  Almost all Australian Government departments and agencies are bound to observe a detailed set of standards (set out in section 14 of the Act) which are known as the Information Privacy Principles (IPPs).
• to ensure that Tax File Numbers (TFNs) are collected and used only for tax related purposes.
  All those who handle TFNs are bound to observe a set of standards known as the Tax File Number Guidelines.
• to protect personal information which is collected by private sector organisations.
  The Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000, which took effect on 21 December 2001, includes a set of National Privacy Principles that apply to private sector organisations in dealing with personal information held by them. The amendments do not have a significant effect on the way Australian Government departments and agencies deal with personal information held by them.