Privacy

There are occasions when you may need to provide Council with personal information such as where you live, how old you are and more, so that we can assist you with an enquiry or complete a task. The information we collect is used only for the purpose it is intended. Council may share information with third parties if this is required in order to complete the task, or if required or as permitted by legislation.

Privacy Statement

Personal information collected by Council is used for municipal purposes as specified in the Local Government Act 1989.  Personal information is held securely and used solely by Council for a specific and/or directly related purposes. Council may disclose this information to other organisations if required or as permitted by legislation.  Anyone providing information understands that their personal information is provided for the specific purpose and that he or she may apply to Council for access to and/or amendment of the information.  Requests for access and/or correction should be made to Council's Privacy Officer.  A full copy of our Privacy Policy may be obtained from one of our Customer Service Centres and at Libraries.

Privacy Laws in Victoria

Privacy is a basic human right. All Victorian government agencies including Councils must comply with privacy laws. These laws govern the handling of personal and health information.

There are three privacy laws applicable in Victoria:

• Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 (applies to Commonwealth agencies and private enterprise)
• Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (applies to State Government and Local Government)
• Health Records Act 2001 (applies to State Government, Local Government and private enterprise)

Privacy Principles

There are 10 Privacy Principles (IPPs) relevant to the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014.  These Privacy Principles set the standard for public sector agencies to manage information appropriately.   

 Privacy Principles guide Councils in how to: Get the right information - To the right people - For the right reason - In the right way - At the right time.

Information covered by privacy laws:

• Personal Information eg. names, addresses, phone numbers
• Sensitive Information eg. racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, criminal records, political views, sexual preferences, membership of groups e.g. unions, political parties
• Health Information eg. medical records and assessments (children, youth, elderly), health care (aged and disability), palliative care (physical and intellectual), family day care, child care, immunisation

Protecting your personal information

The City of Kingston only collects your personal and health information for the purpose of delivering Council services or if required by law. Individuals can access their own personal and health information. We have applied formal processes and safeguards to ensure your personal information is protected at all times. For example:

• A dedicated Privacy Officer
• A Privacy Committee
• Information Privacy Policy
• Cyber Crime and Information Security Policy
• We are regulated by the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) and Health Complaints Commissioner

Privacy enquiries and breaches

Should you wish to discuss a privacy related matter, please contact our Privacy Officer on 1300 653 356.

If you believe Council has breached your privacy, please forward a written complaint to:
Privacy Officer
City of Kingston
PO Box 1000
Mentone VIC 3194