Home | Member Updates | AHEIA Media Release - Union called out over privacy ‘abuse'

Union called out over privacy ‘abuse'


29 May 2026

AHEIA has raised concerns about employee privacy in the higher education sector, arguing that the NTEU is seeking excessive access to university staff pay records, including those of non-members, through proposals made to a Senate inquiry. AHEIA states that such access is currently unlawful and represents a significant intrusion into employee privacy.

AHEIA also highlights the NTEU's privacy policy, which indicates the union may collect a broad range of personal and sensitive information, including social media activity, health information, political views, and sexual orientation. Executive Director Craig Laughton argues that this approach amounts to excessive data collection and could undermine staff privacy. AHEIA maintains that personal information should not be harvested for industrial campaigns and is currently reviewing its own privacy policy to reinforce its commitment to protecting personal data.

Read the full submission here.

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