State to act on privacy concerns

Prying neighbours pointing cameras into backyards and drones flying over homes recording footage would be caught in the crosshairs of strengthened laws to protect Queenslanders’ privacy.

The state government announced on Wednesday its promised crackdown on surveillance devices and push to strengthen privacy laws was back on the agenda — after years of delay and reviews.

But the process won’t be quick with Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman releasing a consultation paper into “possible reforms” to strengthen laws that manage surveillance devices like CCTV, drones, tracking and listening devices and data trackers.

The consultation paper comes despite a Queensland Law Reform Commission workplace surveillance review, which is now two years overdue, and three years after a separate extensive QLRC surveillance review.

The QLRC report found growing community concern around surveillance, including neighbours pointing CCTV cameras into their properties, bosses monitoring employees, and controlling partners using tracking and monitoring technology to perpetrate domestic violence.

There was also disquiet around the use of drones with advanced audio and optical recording capabilities by individuals, governments and commercial companies.

The main recommendation was to repeal the Invasion of Privacy Act 1971 and bring in a Surveillance Devices Bill.

Prohibited use of a surveillance device would also draw harsher penalties, including up to three years in prison.

The government has not yet legislated the recommendations from the QLRC review into civil surveillance.

Submissions to the consultation paper close on May 31.