Joanne Kummrow has been appointed as Queensland’s new Information Commissioner, commencing her three-year term on 3 April 2024. Ms Kummrow brings a wealth of experience as a statutory officer and freedom of information specialist, having most recently served as Public Access Deputy Commissioner in Victoria.
The Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) is an independent statutory body responsible for promoting access to government-held information and safeguarding personal data within the public sector. Ms Kummrow’s extensive background includes expertise in administrative law, civil investigations, and decision-making. She previously served as Special Counsel in the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office, where she led legal teams on freedom of information matters and responded to the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence.
As Information Commissioner, Ms Kummrow will oversee the application of the Right to Information Act 2009 and the Information Privacy Act 2009, ensuring compliance across public sector agencies. She will also handle privacy complaints and make decisions on whether public sector agencies’ privacy obligations can be waived or modified in the public interest.
