The United Kingdom phone hacking controversy centred upon the now defunct British tabloid News of the World became the catalyst for renewed discussion in Australia about whether we need a new private right of action for invasion of privacy protection. The Minister for Privacy and Freedom of Information, the Hon Brendan O'Connor MP, invoked the spectre of phone hacking and 'other recent mass breaches of privacy, both at home and abroad' in his announcement of the Federal Government's intention to consult the public on the introduction of a statutory cause of action for serious invasions of privacy in Australia.