AustraliaMy personal information held by a government agency is incorrect. How do I get it fixed?
You can request a correction in writing to the government agency holding your information under the Privacy Act 1988. They must respond within 30 days and correct it if the information is inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading.
What the Law Says
The Privacy Act 1988 gives you the right to request correction of inaccurate or outdated personal information held by Australian government agencies. This right is set out in Australian Privacy Principle (APP) 13.
Government agencies covered by the Privacy Act — including most federal departments and agencies — must take reasonable steps to correct your personal information if it is inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading.
You must make your request in writing, clearly identifying the information you believe is incorrect and providing evidence to support your claim. The agency must respond to your request within 30 days.
If the agency agrees the information is incorrect, it must correct it as soon as practicable. If it refuses, it must give you written reasons and notify you of your right to complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
Statutory TextAn entity that holds personal information about an individual must take such steps (if any) as are reasonable in the circumstances to correct the information to ensure that, having regard to the purpose for which it is held, the information is accurate, up-to-date, complete, relevant and not misleading.
— Privacy Act 1988, s. 13 — Australian Privacy Principle 13
Statutory TextAn entity must respond to a request made under subclause 13.1 within 30 days.
— Privacy Act 1988, s. 13.2 — Australian Privacy Principle 13
What to Do
Write a clear, dated letter or email to the agency naming the incorrect information and explaining why it’s wrong — include copies of supporting documents (e.g., ID, official records).
Send it to the agency’s privacy officer or designated contact (check their website for details).
Keep a copy of your request and proof of sending (e.g., email receipt or registered post slip).
If the agency doesn’t respond within 30 days, or refuses your request without valid reason, lodge a complaint with the OAIC at oaic.gov.au.
Sources
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JapanNot legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.