1. Personal information and its importance

Personal information is information or an opinion about you from which your identity is apparent. Protecting your privacy is fundamental to the way we do business. This document sets out the way we will collect, store, use, and share your personal information. It will also provide you with information about what you can do to access the personal information we have about you, the way you can have it corrected, if necessary, and what steps you can take to complain about any action taken by us in relation to the information.

The legal framework under which we deal with your personal information is set out in the Privacy Act, the 13 Australian Privacy Principles (contained in Schedule 1 to the Privacy Act) and the Credit Reporting Privacy Code made under the Privacy Act. These rules apply to information about individuals, not corporations.

The information we might collect, store, and use is:-

• your name, address (including e-mail address), and telephone number;
• your date of birth;
• your gender;
• details of goods you buy from us (if relevant);
• your credit card details (as permitted by law); and
• information about your use of our website through the use of “cookies”.

By providing us with personal information you consent to that information being managed in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

2. Why we collect personal information

We collect personal information so that we can:-

• identify those with whom we deal;
• manage our database of Members;
• manage your account dealings with us;
• promote our business;
• use the data provided by you in our lobbying and reporting endeavours where this data would benefit members generally;
• where relevant, enable our corporate partners to market and promote their products and services to you;
• process the order of any goods or services you buy from us; and
• provide you with access to goods and services we believe may be of interest to you.

We will not use personal information we have collected for a purpose other than that disclosed in this Privacy Policy without your consent, or in circumstances where you would reasonably expect the use for that purpose.

3. If you do not provide us with your personal information

If you do not provide us with your personal information or give us consent to collect it from others, we may be unable to deal with you as a Member or in the way you seek or provide you with products and/or services.

4. Where we get personal information

We obtain personal information from any of the following sources:

• you in the process of direct dealings with us in the process of making an application for Membership or ordering goods and services;
• you in the process of communicating with you by other means such as e-mail, mail, or telephone;
• publicly available information such as telephone directories, information on websites or from public databases such as the electoral roll;
• persons or entities you have authorised to provide us with information;
• your use of our website with the aid of “cookies”; and
• marketing companies from which we may acquire information in order that we may offer services to you.

Where we obtain personal information which we are either required to collect, or authorised to collect by law, we will advise you of the fact.

5. Sensitive information

“Sensitive information” is information about your racial or ethnic origin, political opinions,  membership of a political association, religious beliefs or affiliations, philosophical beliefs, membership of a professional or trade association or trade union, sexual preferences or practices, criminal record, health or genetic information.

We will not collect, use or disclose any sensitive information about you unless we have your specific consent, and it is necessary to undertake one of the functions referred to above.

6. Exchange of personal information

We may disclose your personal information to:-

• such bodies as we are authorised at law to do;
• our professional advisers, contractors, and other service providers (such as IT consultants, accountants, lawyers and professional lobbyists);
• Centrelink, Australian Taxation Office, or other Government departments, agencies or bodies, to whom we may be required by law to disclose information supplied by you to us;
• payment system operators (if any);
• our corporate partners to enable them to offer goods and services to you; and
• our insurers, insurance underwriters/providers in relation to our insurance policies.

You may at any time by written notice to us withdraw your consent for us to disclose your personal information to any corporate partner as set out in paragraph e above.