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The Department of Housing is committed to protecting user privacy. We understand and appreciate that visitors and users of this website are concerned about their privacy and the confidentiality and security of any information that may be provided to us.

The Queensland Government has established a privacy regime for the Queensland public sector based on eleven Information Privacy Principles. These principles are contained in an Information Standard that agencies are required to adhere to. A copy of this Standard can be accessed from the Department of Public Works' Office of Government ICT website. These principles have been grouped into five major areas, as follows:

Collection of personal information

The Department of Housing will only collect personal information necessary for, or directly related to, its activities and functions and only by fair means. When collecting personal information, the department will ensure that a person is generally aware of:

• the purpose for which the information is being collected;
• to whom the information is usually disclosed; and
• whether collection is authorised by law.

Storage and security of personal information

The Department of Housing has possession of personal information and will ensure that there are reasonable safeguards against unauthorised access, use, modification or disclosure of the information.

Access and alteration of personal information

Individuals are entitled to seek access to their personal information and to amend those records if they are inaccurate. Rights of access and amendment are limited to existing rights under the Freedom of Information Act 1992 (Queensland).

Accuracy of personal information

The Department of Housing will take reasonable steps to ensure any personal information used is accurate, current and complete.

Use and disclosure of personal information

In general, the Department of Housing will use personal information only for the purpose for which it was collected, and disclose personal information only if the individual concerned is reasonably aware of, or has consented to that disclosure.

However, the department may use or disclose personal information for any other purpose if your prior approval is obtained or if it is required by law.

Standard privacy notice for clients

The Department of Housing collects personal information on forms to provide you with housing assistance or assess grant funding applications. This is authorised by the Housing Act 2003. To assist you with your housing needs and services, relevant personal information may, in very limited and specific circumstances, be disclosed to:

• Partner agencies
  • Department of Child Safety
  • Queensland Health
  • Disability Services Queensland
  • Department of Communities
  • Queensland Correctional Services
  • The Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian

• Service providers
  • Justice and Attorney-General (Clerk of the Court)
  • Department of Public Works (QBuild, Project Services)
  • Department of Communities (Queensland Government Agency Program)

• Agencies authorised by legislative provisions
  • Department of Child Safety
  • Justice and Attorney-General
  • Queensland Police Service
  • Queensland Electoral Commission
  • Australian Federal Police
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Centrelink

• Local governments and non-governmental agencies that now or will provide you with housing and/or support services.

Limited personal information may be used for housing related research, policy or planning functions. Unless authorised or required by law, your personal information will not be passed on to any other third party without your consent.

Privacy Plan and Privacy Complaints and Appeal Procedure

The department’s Privacy Plan (109Kb) and the Privacy Complaints and Appeal Procedure (57Kb) can be downloaded.

Cookies*

The Department of Housing is a cookie-free site. When you look at this website, our server makes a record of your visit and logs the following information for statistical purposes only – the user’s server address, the user’s top level domain name (for example .com, .gov, .au, etc) the date and time of visit to the site, the pages accessed and documents downloaded, the previous site visited, and the type of browser used. No attempt is or will be made to identify users or their browsing activities except, in the unlikely event of an investigation, where a law enforcement agency may exercise a power to inspect activity logs.

*A 'cookie' is a record stored on a computer when a user visits a particular website. Each time a computer is used to access the same site, the information which was previously received is sent back to the website by the browser. The cookie indicates to the website server that a person has been to the site before and what parts of the website have been visited.

Emails

This is a Queensland Government website. Email correspondence sent to this site will be treated as a public record and will be retained as required by the Public Records Act 2002 and other relevant regulations.

Your name and address details will not be added to a mailing list, nor will we disclose these details to third parties without your consent unless required by law. Email messages may be monitored by our website support staff for maintenance purposes.

Contact

If you have any queries about the department's privacy and security practices, please email Privacy@housing.qld.gov.au.

Last updated 21 May 2008