The Victorian Water Industry Association, ABN 46 541 210 712 (“VicWater”) is committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information. We comply with the Privacy Act 1988.

Collecting personal information

Personal details are only collected if provided by you (eg. registering for access to the member area of our website, registering for an event or subscribing to a publication).

Cookies

Cookies are sent from our website and will be stored in your web browser when you visit our website. Various cookie controls are available to you; depending on your browser (eg. you can allow all cookies, be notified when one is issued or not accept them at all, you can also delete cookies at any time).

If you don’t allow our cookies or delete them and are a member of our member area you will be asked to re-enter your username and password every time you log on to the member area.

Google Analytics

We collect and analyse some website statistics for our internal use only. This is done to assist us in the continuous improvement of our website. The tool we use is Google Analytics.

Google Analytics may automatically record some of your computer’s details such as:

• IP address
• domain name
• browser type
• date and time of access
• details of the information downloaded

Data Collection

An organisation VicWater only collect personal information where this is necessary for the performance of our functions. Personal information may only be collected by fair and lawful means and not in an unreasonably intrusive way.

Use and Disclosure

An organisation can only use or disclose personal information for the primary purpose for which it was collected unless it obtains the consent of the individual concerned, subject to some exceptions.

Data Quality

VicWater take all reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information it holds is accurate, complete, up to date and secure.

Data Security

VicWater will safeguard personal information against misuse, loss and unauthorised access and modification. VicWater will destroy or de-identify personal information it no longer needs.

Openness

VicWater will document clearly expressed policies on management of personal information and make this statement available on request.

Access and Correction

On request by an individual, VicWater will provide access to any personal information it holds about that individual, subject to some exceptions.

If an individual is able to establish that the personal information held by VicWater is not accurate, complete and up to date, VicWater will take reasonable steps to correct the information.

Unique Identifiers

Unless necessary, VicWater will not:

• assign unique identifiers to individuals,
• adopt as its own unique identifier of an individual the unique identifier of another organisation,
• use or disclose a unique identifier assigned by another organisation, or
• require an individual to provide a unique identifier to obtain a service.

Anonymity

VicWater must allow individuals the option of entering transactions anonymously wherever lawful and practicable.

Transborder Data Flows

VicWater can only transfer personal information out of Victoria if the recipient is subject to laws that are substantially similar to the Information Privacy Principles, subject to some exceptions.

Sensitive Information

The collection of sensitive information is restricted.
Sensitive information means information or an opinion about an individual’s:

• racial or ethnic origin; or
• political opinions; or
• membership of a political association; or
• religious beliefs or affiliations; or
• philosophical beliefs; or
• membership of a professional or trade association; or
• membership of a trade union; or
• sexual preferences or practices; or
• criminal record.

Delegations

When collecting personal information, an organisation must take reasonable steps to ensure that the individual is aware of the identity of the organisation and how to contact it, that they may have access to the information, why the information is collected, to whom it may be disclosed, any law requiring collection and the consequences of not providing the information.

The actions resulting from this Policy are required to conform to the VicWater Business Plan and be approved by the Chief Executive Officer of VicWater. Depending on the circumstances, they may also be subject to approval of the VicWater Board.