The Australian Privacy Commissioner, Karen Curtis, recently released new guidance to assist organisations who seek to engage in electronic marketing.

"The Privacy and Spam Acts provide Australians with protections against receiving unsolicited emails, and it is in business' best interests to familiarise themselves with their obligations to ensure they are not in breach of the law," said Ms Curtis.

Ms Curtis said the guidance materials discuss:

the coverage of the Privacy and Spam Acts, and how they interact

whether businesses have to get people's consent when sending electronic marketing messages

what businesses must tell people when marketing or sending other information by email

The materials complement guidance on spam produced by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has also produced a set of FAQs for consumers on spam and privacy.

The guidance materials can be found at www.privacy.gov.au/publications/index.html#I .