austlii:cth/AICmr/2025/155
General information, not legal advice.
AICmr
2025-08-26
Original judgment source is linked above.
Commissioner Initiated Investigation into Kmart Australia Limited (Privacy) [2025] AICmr 155 (26 August 2025)
Privacy - Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) - Australian Privacy Principles - APP 3.3 - APP 3.4 - APP 5.1 - APP 5.2 - APP 1.3 - APP 1.4 - whether personal information was collected - whether permitted general situation existed in relation to collection - whether reasonable steps were taken to notify or otherwise ensure individuals were aware of APP 5.2 matters - whether the respondent had a clearly expressed and up-to-date privacy policy - breaches substantiated - must not repeat or continue acts and practices found to be an interference with individuals' privacy
[76] T1.1.A1 - Appendix to T1.1: Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice p.2.
[77] R2.1 - Attachment to R2: Letter from the respondent to the OAIC dated 7 October 2022 p.3.
[80] R1.1 - Attachment to R1: Letter from the respondent to the OAIC dated 8 August 2022 p.2; R4.1 - Respondent's submissions in response to the preliminary view dated 30 April 2025 p.3.
[81] R2.1 - Attachment to R2: Letter from the respondent to the OAIC dated 7 October 2022 p.2.
[83] R3.2 - Respondent's spreadsheet of financial information for relevant years.
[84] R2.1.A.1 - Appendix 1 to R2: Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice p.10.
[85] R2.1.A.1 - Appendix 1 to R2: Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice p.10; R3.1 - Letter from the respondent to the OAIC dated 10 April 2025 p.3.
[86] R4.1 - Respondent's submissions in response to the preliminary view dated 30 April 2025 p.5.
[87] See Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Naidu & Anor; ISS Security Pty Ltd v Naidu & Anor [2007] NSWCA 377 at 234, citing Hamilton v Whitehead [1988] HCA 65; (1988) 166 CLR 121; Director General, Department of Education and Training v MT [2006] NSWCA 270; and North Sydney Council v Roman [2007] NSWCA 27.
[88] R4.1 - Respondent's submissions in response to the preliminary view dated 30 April 2025 p.2; R4.2 - Witness Statement - Respondent's General Manager Central Operations and Safety dated 30 April 2025 p.1.
[90] George v Rockett [1990] HCA 26; (1990) 170 CLR 104 at 112, 116; see also Seven Network v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2004] FCAFC 267; (2004) 140 FCR 170 at 182.
[91] R1.1 - Attachment to R1: Letter from the respondent to the OAIC dated 5 August 2022 p.2.
[92] Explanatory Memorandum - Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Bill 2012 (Cth) p.67.
[94] R4.1 - Respondent's submissions in response to the preliminary view dated 30 April 2025 p.6.
[95] R4.1 - Respondent's submissions in response to the preliminary view dated 30 April 2025 p.6.
[96] R4.1 - Respondent's submissions in response to the preliminary view dated 30 April 2025 p.6; R4.2 - Witness Statement - Respondent's General Manager Central Operations and Safety dated 30 April 2025 pp.3-4.
[98] APP Guidelines [B.116]; Mulholland v Australian Electoral Commissioner [2004] HCA 41 [39] (Gleeson CJ).
[99] R2.1 - Attachment to R2: Letter from the respondent to the OAIC dated 7 October 2022 p.2; R4.1 - Respondent's submissions in response to the preliminary view dated 30 April 2025 p.3.
[100] R4.1 - Respondent's submissions in response to the preliminary view dated 30 April 2025 p.10.
[101] R2.1 - Attachment to R2: Letter from the respondent to the OAIC dated 7 October 2022 p.2; R1.1.A1 - Appendix 1 to R1.1: Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice p.15.
[102] R4.1 - Respondent's submissions in response to the preliminary view dated 30 April 2025 p.14.
[103] R4.1 - Respondent's submissions in response to the preliminary view dated 30 April 2025 p.14; R4.2 - Witness Statement - Respondent's General Manager Central Operations and Safety dated 30 April 2025 p.1.
[104] R4.1 - Respondent's submissions in response to the preliminary view dated 30 April 2025 pp.14-15; R4.2 - Witness Statement - Respondent's General Manager Central Operations and Safety dated 30 April 2025 pp.3-7.
[105] R2.1.A1 - Appendix 1 to R2.1 - Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice p.10.
[106] R2.1.A1 - Appendix 1 to R2.1 - Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice p.10.
[107] R2.1.A1 - Appendix 1 to R2.1 - Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice p.10.
[108] R1.1.A7.1 - Appendix 7.1 to R1.1: ShrinK 365: FRT Guide dated November 2021 pp.12-13; R1.1.A7.2 - Appendix 7.2 to R1.1: ShrinK 365: FRT National Office Guide dated April 2022 p.6.
[109] R4.2 - Witness Statement - Respondent's General Manager Central Operations and Safety dated 30 April 2025 p.2.
[110] R2.1.A3 - Appendix 3 to R2.1: Incident reports and refunds prevented.
[111] R2.1.A3 - Appendix 3 to R2.1: Incident reports and refunds prevented.
[112] R1.1.A3 - Appendix 3 to R1.1: List of FRT stores; R1.1.A1 - Appendix 1 to R.1.1: Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice p.15.
[113] R2.1 - Attachment to R2: Letter from the respondent to the OAIC dated 7 October 2022 p.2 [7]. R1.1.A1 - Appendix 1 to R1.1: Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice p.15.
[114] R2.1.A3 - Appendix 3 to R2.1: Incident reports and refunds prevented.
[115] R2.1.A.1 - Appendix 1 to R2.1: Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice p.10; R3.1 - Letter from the respondent to the OAIC dated 10 April 2025 p.3. As discussed in paragraph [62], the respondent provided figures that refunds without proof of purchase amounted to [Redacted] in the 2020 financial year.
[116] R4.2 - Witness Statement - Respondent's General Manager Central Operations and Safety dated 30 April 2025 p.6; R2.1.A.1 - Appendix 1 to R2.1: Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice p.10; R3.1 -Letter from the respondent to the OAIC dated 10 April 2025 p.3.
[117] R4.2 - Witness Statement - Respondent's General Manager Central Operations and Safety dated 30 April 2025 p.6.
[118] R4.1 - Respondent's submissions in response to the preliminary view dated 30 April 2025 p.16.
[119] R2.1 - Attachment to R2: Letter from the respondent to the OAIC dated 7 October 2022 p.2.
[120] R2.1 - Attachment to R2: Letter from the respondent to the OAIC dated 7 October 2022 p.2.
[121] R4.2 - Witness Statement - Respondent's General Manager Central Operations and Safety dated 30 April 2025, pp.3-4.
[122] R4.1 - Respondent's submissions in response to the preliminary view dated 30 April 2025 p.18; R4.2 - Witness Statement - Respondent's General Manager Central Operations and Safety dated 30 April 2025 p.4.
[123] R4.1 - Respondent's submissions in response to the preliminary view dated 30 April 2025 p.18; R4.2 - Witness Statement - Respondent's General Manager Central Operations and Safety dated 30 April 2025 pp.4-5.
[124] See for example, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation 452236 Retail Loss Prevention Officer, accessed 22 August 2025.
[125] R3.1 - Letter from the respondent to the OAIC dated 10 April 2025 pp.2-3.
[126] R4.1 - Respondent's submissions in response to the preliminary view dated 30 April 2025 p.18; R2.1.A1 Appendix 1 to R2.1: Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice pp. 12-13.
[127] R4.1 - Respondent's submissions in response to the preliminary view dated 30 April 2025 p.18.
[128] Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) sch 2 ('Australian Consumer Law').
[129] Kmart Returns Policy: https://www.kmart.com.au/returns-policy/?srsltid=AfmBOoox_cGicKekxWE_9dapxoA-xOiesTQF0v9KlCehxWyCmG_CtuCg, accessed 21 August 2025.
[130] Kmart Returns Policy: https://www.kmart.com.au/returns-policy/?srsltid=AfmBOoox_cGicKekxWE_9dapxoA-xOiesTQF0v9KlCehxWyCmG_CtuCg, accessed 21 August 2025.
[131] R4.2 - Witness Statement - Respondent's General Manager Central Operations and Safety dated 30 April 2025 p.2.
[132] R4.2 - Witness Statement - Respondent's General Manager Central Operations and Safety dated 30 April 2025 p.7.
[133] For example, Preventing workplace violence and aggression guide | Safe Work Australia, Appendix A - Industry hazards and control measures, see 'Retail and hospitality' pp.19-20.
[134] R4.2 - Witness Statement - Respondent's General Manager Central Operations and Safety dated 30 April 2025 p.7.
[135] R4.1 - Respondent's submissions in response to the preliminary view dated 30 April 2025 p.20.
[136] R1.1.A10 - Appendix 10 to R1.1: Wesfarmers Minimum Standards for the use of FRT dated 3 September 2020 p.2.
[137] R2.1.A4.1 - Appendix 4.1 to R2.1: FRT compliance plan checklist dated September 2021; R2.1.A4.2 - Appendix 4.2 to R2.1: FRT compliance plan checklist dated October 2021; R2.1.A4.3 - Appendix 4.3 to R2.1: FRT compliance plan checklist dated November 2021; R2.1.A4.4 - Appendix 4.4 to R2.1: FRT compliance plan checklist dated March 2022; R2.1.A4.5 - Appendix 4.5 to R2.1: FRT compliance plan checklist dated June 2022.
[138] R2.1.A4.1 - R2.1.A4.5 - Appendices to R2.1: 'FRT compliance plan checklist' for September 2021, October 2021, November 2021, March 2022 and June 2022 pp.1-2.
[139] R2.1.A4.1 - R2.1.A4.5 - Appendices to R2.1: 'FRT compliance plan checklist' for September 2021, October 2021, November 2021, March 2022 and June 2022 pp.1-2.
[140] R2.1.A4.1 - R2.1.A4.5 - Appendices to R2.1: 'FRT compliance plan checklist' for September 2021, October 2021, November 2021, March 2022 and June 2022 pp.1-2.
[141] Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) s 2A(1).
[142] R4.1 - Respondent's submissions in response to the preliminary view dated 30 April 2025 pp.19-20.
[143] Australian Human Rights Commission, Human Rights and Technology - Discussion paper, December 2019.
[144] Wesfarmers Annual Report 2020 p.7.
[145] R4.2 - Witness Statement - Respondent's General Manager Central Operations and Safety dated 30 April 2025 p.5.
[148] Explanatory Memorandum - Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Bill 2012 (Cth) [79].
[149] Explanatory Memorandum - Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Bill 2012 (Cth) [79].
[150] R2.1 - Attachment to R2: Letter from the respondent to the OAIC dated 7 October 2022 p.3.
[151] R1.1.A.1 - Appendix 1 to R1.1: Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice p.15.
[152] R1.1.A.1 - Appendix 1 to R1.1: Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice p.13.
[155] R2.1.A1 - Appendix 1 to R2.1: Answers to the question in the OAIC notice p.2.
[156] Wesfarmers Annual Report 2021 p.9.
[157] Wesfarmers Annual Report 2022 p.9.
[158] R2.1.A1 - Appendix 1 to R2.1: Answers to the question in the OAIC notice p.2.
[159] R1.1.A1 - Appendix 1 to R1.1: Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice pp.13 and 16.
[160] R1.1.A9 - Appendix 9 to R1.1: Location and position of respondent's conditions of entry store signage; R1.1.A8 - Appendix 8 to R1.1: Respondent's conditions of entry store signage p.1.
[161] R2.1.A1 - Appendix 1 to R2.1: Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice p.6.
[162] R2.1.A1 - Appendix 1 to R2.1: Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice p.13.
[163] R2.1.A1 - Appendix 1 to R2.1: Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice p.13; R2.1.A4.1 - Appendix 4.1 to R2.1: FRT compliance plan checklist dated September 2021.
[164] R2.1.A4.1 - Appendix 4.1 to R2.1: FRT compliance plan checklist dated September 2021 pp.7-8, item 3b; R2.1.A4.2 - Appendix 4.2 to R2.1: FRT compliance plan checklist dated October 2021 pp.7-8, item 3b; R2.1.A4.3 - Appendix 4.3 to R2.1: FRT compliance plan checklist dated November 2021 pp.7-8, item 3b.
[165] R2.1.A4.1 - Appendix 4.1 to R2.1: FRT compliance plan checklist dated September 2021 pp.7-8, item 3b.
[166] R2.1.A4.1 - Appendix 4.1 to R2.1: FRT compliance plan checklist dated September 2021 pp.7-8, item 3b.
[167] R2.1.A4.2 - Appendix 4.2 to R2.1: FRT compliance plan checklist dated October 2021 pp.7-8, item 3b.
[168] R2.1.A4.4 - Appendix 4.4 to R2.1: FRT compliance plan checklist dated March 2022 pp.7-8, item 3b.
[169] R1.1.A7.1 - Appendix 7.1 to R1.1: ShrinK 365: FRT Guide dated November 2021 p.14.
[170] R1.1.A3 - Appendix 3 to R1.1: List of FRT stores.
[171] R1.1.A3 - Appendix 3 to R1.1: List of FRT stores.
[172] R1.1.A7.1 - Appendix 7.1 to R1.1: ShrinK 365: FRT Guide dated November 2021 p.14; R1.1.A7.2 - Appendix 7.2 to R1.1: ShrinK 365: FRT National Office Guide dated April 2022 p.18.
[173] R2.1.A1 - Appendix 1 to R2.1: Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice p.5.
[174] R1.1.A8 - Appendix 8 to R1.1: Respondent's conditions of entry store signage p.2; R1.1.A1 - Appendix 1 to R1.1: Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice p.13.
[175] R3.1 - Letter from the respondent to the OAIC dated 10 April 2025 pp.4-6.
[176] R1.1.A1 - Appendix 1 to R1.1: Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice pp.12 and 16.
[177] R1.1.A1 - Appendix 1 to R1.1: Answers to the questions in the OAIC notice p.12.
[178] R1.1.A11.1 - Appendix 11.1 to R1.1: Respondent's privacy policy dated 2018 - November 2021.
[179] R1.1.A11.2 - Appendix 11.2 to R1.1: Respondent's privacy policy dated November 2021 - May 2022.
[180] R1.1.A11.3 - Appendix 11.3 to R1.1: Respondent's privacy policy dated May 2022 - 15 July 2022.
[181] R1.1.A11.1 - Appendix 11.1 to R1.1: Respondent's privacy policy dated 2018 - November 2021.
[182] R1.1.A11.1 - Appendix 11.1 to R1.1: Respondent's privacy policy dated 2018 - November 2021 p.3.
[183] R1.1.A11.2 - Appendix 11.2 to R1.1: Respondent's privacy policy dated November 2021 - May 2022 pp.2 and 4; R1.1.A11.3 - Appendix 11.3 to R1.1: Respondent's privacy policy dated May 2022 - 15 July 2022 pp.2 and 3.
[184] R1.1.A11.2 - Appendix 11.2 to R1.1: Respondent's privacy policy dated November 2021 - May 2022 p.4; R1.1.A11.3 - Appendix 11.3 to R1.1: Respondent's privacy policy dated May 2022 - 15 July 2022 p.3.
[185] R1.1.A3 - Appendix 3 to R1.1: List of FRT stores.
[186] The figure of 17 months is based on the period of June 2020 to November 2021. That is, the respondent commenced operating the FRT system in its first store in June 2020, and privacy policy 1 ceased effect as of November 2021.
[187] R1.1.A3 - Appendix 3 to R1.1: List of FRT stores.
[188] 'ABR' and Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Privacy) [2022] AICmr53 (24 June 2022), [63].
[189] 'ABR' and Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Privacy) [2022] AICmr53 (24 June 2022), [107].
[190] R1.1.A11.1 - Appendix 11.1 to R1.1: Respondent's privacy policy dated 2018 - November 2021; R1.1.A11.2 - Appendix 11.2 to R1.1: Respondent's privacy policy dated November 2021 - May 2022; R1.1.A11.3 - Appendix 11.3 to R1.1: Respondent's privacy policy dated May 2022 - 15 July 2022.
[191] R1.1.A11.1 - Appendix 11.1 to R1.1: Respondent's privacy policy dated 2018 - November 2021 p.3.
[192] R1.1.A11.2 - Appendix 11.2 to R1.1: Respondent's privacy policy dated November 2021 - May 2022 p.2; R1.1.A11.3 - Appendix 11.3 to R1.1: Respondent's privacy policy dated May 2022 - 15 July 2022 p.2.
[193] R1.1.A11.2 - Appendix 11.2 to R1.1: Respondent's privacy policy dated November 2021 - May 2022 p.2; R1.1.A11.3 - Appendix 11.3 to R1.1: Respondent's privacy policy dated May 2022 - 15 July 2022 p.2.
(1988) 166 CLR 121
(1990) 170 CLR 104
(2004) 140 FCR 170