Timothy Pilgrim has been reappointed to the role of Australian Privacy Commissioner, ending the vacancy since his previous term expired in July.
After his previous five-year term expired, Pilgrim was appointed acting Australian Information Commissioner.
That role came on the heels of Australian Information Commissioner Professor John McMillan leaving the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) to take on the role NSW Ombudsman.
"Mr Pilgrim was appointed acting Australian Information Commissioner for a three month period in July 2015 while the Government considers options for the future of the Information Commissioner position," a statement issued today by Attorney-General George Brandis said.
The government has re-appointed Pilgrim only for a 12-month period, starting in October, amid uncertainty about the future of the OAIC.
The government has previously sought to abolish the office, creating an Office of the Privacy Commissioner to take over the OAIC's Privacy Act enforcement role and moving Freedom of Information review powers into the Attorney-General's Department; however, legislation to do so has not yet been able to find its way through the Senate.
Pilgrim's initial term as Privacy Commissioner, spanned July 2010 to July this year. From 1998 until 2010 he had been Deputy Privacy Commissioner.