Australian Privacy Act
Australian law for personal information protection and handling
AS9120B
Aerospace QMS standard for distributors ensuring traceability and counterfeit prevention.
Quick Verdict
Australian Privacy Act mandates privacy protections for personal data across Australian businesses, enforced by OAIC with heavy fines. AS9120B certifies aerospace distributors' QMS for traceability and counterfeit prevention, required by OEMs for supply chain access.
Australian Privacy Act
Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)
Key Features
- 13 principles-based Australian Privacy Principles (APPs)
- Mandatory Notifiable Data Breaches scheme
- Reasonable steps for data security (APP 11)
- Accountability for cross-border disclosures (APP 8)
- Civil penalties up to AUD 50 million
AS9120B
AS9120B Quality Management Systems for Distributors
Key Features
- Counterfeit and suspected unapproved parts prevention
- Traceability and chain-of-custody controls for split lots
- Risk-based external provider evaluation and flowdown
- Configuration management via sales order records
- Enhanced product preservation and storage controls
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
Australian Privacy Act Details
What It Is
Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) is Australia's federal regulation establishing baseline privacy standards for handling personal information. It applies to government agencies and private sector organizations over AUD 3M turnover, using a principles-based, risk-calibrated approach across the data lifecycle.
Key Components
- 13 Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) covering collection, use, disclosure, security, and rights.
- Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme for serious harm incidents.
- APP 11 security and APP 8 cross-border rules.
- Enforced by OAIC via investigations, audits, penalties up to AUD 50M.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandatory for covered entities to avoid penalties, reputational damage.
- Enhances risk management, data governance, trust.
- Supports transborder flows while protecting privacy.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, policies, controls, training, audits.
- Applies economy-wide, scales by size/sensitivity.
- No certification; OAIC compliance via self-assessment, enforcement.
AS9120B Details
What It Is
AS9120B is the IAQG quality management system standard for aerospace distributors, built on ISO 9001:2015's high-level structure. It targets organizations procuring, storing, splitting, and reselling parts without alteration, using a risk-based approach to address supply chain risks like traceability loss and counterfeits.
Key Components
- Over 100 aerospace-specific requirements beyond ISO 9001.
- Core areas: context analysis, leadership, planning, support, distribution operations (traceability, preservation, counterfeit prevention), performance evaluation, improvement.
- Built on PDCA cycle; certification via accredited bodies with OASIS listing.
Why Organizations Use It
- Commercial necessity for OEM/Tier 1 supply chains.
- Mitigates risks of nonconformities, counterfeits; enhances market access.
- Builds customer trust via auditable chain-of-custody; drives efficiency.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, process design, training, audits (6-12 months typical).
- Applies to aviation/space/defense distributors globally; requires internal audits, management reviews, certification audits.
Key Differences
| Aspect | Australian Privacy Act | AS9120B |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Personal information handling lifecycle | Aerospace parts distribution QMS |
| Industry | All sectors, Australian-linked entities | Aerospace distributors globally |
| Nature | Mandatory principles-based regulation | Voluntary certification standard |
| Testing | OAIC audits and assessments | Third-party certification audits |
| Penalties | AUD 50M fines or 30% turnover | Loss of certification, market exclusion |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Australian Privacy Act and AS9120B
Australian Privacy Act FAQ
AS9120B FAQ
You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

Using CIS Controls v8.1 as a ‘Compliance On-Ramp’: Map One Security Program to NIST CSF, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and NIS2
Use CIS Controls v8.1 as your compliance on-ramp. Map one security program to NIST CSF, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and NIS2 without duplicating work via practical mapp

CIS Controls v8.1, Operationalized: Top 10 Reasons Compliance Monitoring Software Accelerates Real-World Implementation
Operationalize CIS Controls v8.1 with compliance monitoring software. Turn checklists into dashboards, tickets, and audit-proof workflows. Top 10 reasons it acc

Top 10 Reasons ISO 27701 is the Ultimate Privacy Boost for Your ISO 27001 ISMS in 2025
Extend ISO 27001 with ISO 27701 for ultimate privacy governance amid GDPR & AI regs. Discover top 10 advantages like integrated audits to future-proof your ISMS
Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM
Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform
Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.
Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages
SAFe vs IFS Food
Compare SAFe vs IFS Food: Scale enterprise agile with SAFe or master food safety compliance via IFS? Discover key differences, benefits & tips to choose wisely. (152 characters)
ISO 27032 vs EN 1090
ISO 27032 vs EN 1090: Compare cybersecurity guidelines for Internet security with steel/aluminium structural standards. Uncover compliance, risks, implementation, and key differences now.
FSSC 22000 vs CMMI
Compare FSSC 22000 vs CMMI: Food safety certification scheme meets process maturity model. Uncover key differences in requirements, audits, scopes & benefits for peak compliance. Dive in now!