Quick Answer: The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, known until 2010 as the Office of the Australian Privacy Commissioner, is an independent Australian Government agency acting as the national data protection authority for Australia, established under the Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010, and headed by the Australian Information Commissioner. The office has three primary functions: • privacy functions, conferred by the Privacy Act 1988 and other laws • freedom of information functions, in particular, oversight of the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and review of decisions made by agencies and ministers under that Act • government information policy functions, conferred on the Australian Information Commissioner under the Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010.__###newline###__ The office is an agency within the Attorney-General's portfolio.