Privacy Policy

Overview

A Privacy Policy document states how your business collects, use and manages personal information it may collect.

A Privacy Policy is required under the Privacy Act 1988 if your business collects personal information online or directly from your customers.

A Privacy Policy is required for:

  • Letting people know how you collect, use and respect their information;

  • Be compliant under Australian privacy laws;

  • When collect personal information on your website.

The Privacy Policy covers:

  • Collection of personal information;

  • Use of personal information;

  • Disclosure of personal information;

  • Rights and control of a customers personal information;

  • Storage and security of personal information;

  • Website cookies and third party sites.

Privacy Policy for websites

If your website collects personal information from users, it must include a privacy policy that complies with Australian and / or international laws. A website that does not include a privacy policy may be subject to large fines in cases of a data breach.

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) provides further information on the content of policy you may require.

Businesses with an annual turnover of $3 million or more must ensure their privacy policy complies with the requirements under the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles.

If you are not sure or your annual turnover of less than $3 million, click here to see if you need to comply with the Privacy Act?

Websites with third party apps

Websites are often connected to third party applications (Vendors) such as Google Analytics that track website interactions by users for marketing purposes.

The applications may also use ‘cookies’ that collect personal information from its users. If your website interacts with third party vendors, your privacy policy must include a clause notifying the user that third party vendor may collect their personal information.

European General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) laws

The European General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) laws regulate how businesses should manage consumer's data to insure their privacy rights are protected. You will need to comply with the GDPR laws if your business website collects European consumer data. If you are unsure whether your website is GDPR compliant, you can check using the OAIC website. The website also contains a Comparison table between the EU GDPR and the Australian Privacy Act.

The following resources may also assist Australian businesses to take steps to comply:

Placement of Privacy Policy

It is common for websites to have a separate page for its Privacy Policy. Most websites place a link to the Privacy Policy in the footer. This makes it easy for users to find your Privacy Policy.

Privacy Policy Templates

AHBC members can access a sample Privacy Policy template via the AHBC Tool Box. Go to the Members tab, access the "Membership and Member's Service" form, select option "4. Business Tool Kit", enter your user email address and select the required tools and templates.

For further details on the Business Tool Box, click here.