ADM+S members present evidence for the Inquiry into Workplace Surveillance
Author Natalie Campbell
Date 8 November 2024
On 1 November 2024 ADM+S members Dr Jake Goldenfein and Lauren Kelly presented evidence to the Victorian Legislative Assembly Economy and Infrastructure Committee for the final hearing of the Inquiry into Workplace Surveillance.
The Inquiry was established in May 2024 to examine the extent to which surveillance data is being collected, shared, stored, disclosed, sold, disposed of and otherwise utilised in Victorian workplaces.
ADM+S Chief Investigator Dr Jake Goldenfein from the University of Melbourne presented evidence on behalf of ADM+S and as a co-author on the NTEU submission that made three key recommendations:
Recommendation 1: The Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner audits Victorian universities for their compliance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2018 (Vic) to be adequately resourced for this purpose.
Recommendation 2: The Victorian Parliament enacts a statute dedicated to regulating workplace surveillance.
Recommendation 3: The statute in Recommendation 2 be based on six Workplace Privacy Principles
- Comprehensiveness
- Transparency
- Freedom of association and the centrality of trade unions
- Legitimate purpose and proportionality
- Governance and accountability
- Effective compliance and enforcement
Dr Goldenfein said, “The commissioners were deeply concerned about the range of harms that surveillance causes to workers and Victoria’s inadequate regulatory regime.”
ADM+S PhD Student Lauren Kelly from RMIT University also spoke to the Committee, as an author on the United Workers Union submission, which highlighted case studies of workplace surveillance from secretive to biometric, working from home surveillance to medical surveillance, and more, demonstrating both beneficial and unacceptable uses.
The Committee’s final report, including findings and recommendations, will be tabled in parliament in 2025.
