Privacy Policy

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Policy Statement

The Department of Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources (RDPIFR) respects the privacy of individuals in accordance with the Northern Territory Information Act. The Act establishes 10 Information Privacy Principles to govern the collection, use, storage and management of personal information by NT Government Agencies. 

The department undertakes to protect such information from unauthorised access and disclosure, and to hold such information for only that period of time that it is required by the legislation, business needs, or historical or cultural reasons associated with the function for which the information is collected.

Legislative Framework

Northern Territory Information Act

• Northern Territory Government Records and Archives Management Standards
• Public Sector Employment and Management Act and Code of Conduct

Related Policies

• Department of Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources Information Access Policy

Collection of Personal Information

The department delivers a wide range of programs to support the development of business and industry throughout the Northern Territory.  This may involve the collection of personal information from departmental clients and stakeholders, including:

Primary Industry

• Details of applicants for licences or permits administered by the group
• Information about people involved with animal disease and animal health and welfare matters
• Details of people and companies that hold brands under the NT Brands Act
• The waybill database, which includes information about people who move livestock in the NT
• Information about clients who have reported, or been involved in, insect or plant pest outbreaks
• Information included in correspondence between the group, clients and other stakeholders
• Information about clients who access services from the group, including contact lists for industry groups to which the group provides specific support

Fisheries

• Details of applicants for licences or permits issued by the department in accordance with the NT Fisheries Act
• Statistical data about recreational and commercial fishing
• Information included in correspondence between the group, clients and other stakeholders
• Information about clients who access services from the group, including contact lists for industry groups to which the group provides specific support

Minerals and Energy

• Details of applicants for all exploration and mining titles (including oil and gas) granted under NT and Commonwealth legislation in the Territory and its offshore waters
• Details of applicants for renewable energy rebates or grants
• Details of community visits to discuss mining-related issues
• Information about people who have given the department a power of attorney to act on their behalf in relation to mining titles
• Information included in correspondence between the group, clients and other stakeholders
• Information about clients who access services from the group, including contact lists for industry groups to which the group provides specific support
• Details of applicants to attend conferences, seminars or courses run by the group

Policy Planning and Review

• Information relating to the corporate governance of the department, including surveys of client groups
• Information about legal matters in which the department is involved

Corporate Services

Human Resources

• Information about recruitment to positions within the department, and employment files for all staff

Finance

• Information about people and companies from which the department purchases goods or services

Information Management

• Details of FOI applications received and processed
• Repository for records which may include personal information that have been created during the life of the Department or it’s predecessors.

Marketing and Communications

• Photographic library, including information about the images and associated consent forms.
• Information about people involved in Departmental marketing excercises.

Regional Offices– (Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine)

Information about clients who access services from the group, including contact lists for industry groups to which the group provides specific support

• Information similar to those in the above groups where regional office staff are delivering services under those groups’ programs

Use of Personal Information

The department undertakes to use personal information for the primary purpose for which it was acquired, or for related secondary purposes.  Reasonable steps will be taken to acquire a person’s consent before disclosure of the information to third parties. 

If clients do not wish to consent to the department using their personal information as outlined in this section, and there is no legal reason that requires this use, they may request the department not to use their information in this manner. 

Requests should be directed to:

Director, Information Management
Department of Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources
GPO Box 3000
DARWIN   NT   0801
                                   
Telephone: 08 8999 2369
Fax: 08 8999 2100
Email: noelene.elvish@nt.gov.au

The department assumes that people have consented for their information to be used and disclosed for purposes such as:

• For use in mail, email and telephone contact lists to receive information about the department’s programs and initiatives, where these are relevant to the reasons why those people provided information to the department
• To comply with the requirements of legislation under which the department grants licences or permits, or where the department collects information on behalf of other NT Government Agencies which grant licences or permits
• To provide advice to the department’s Minister(s) about matters related to the reasons why those people provided the information to the department, and for correspondence from the Minister(s) in relation to these matters
• For surveys or inquiries to gain information from clients about the effectiveness and/or satisfaction with services provided by the department
• To allow the department to effectively communicate with individuals in relation to their dealings with this department
• To refer matters to other NT Government agencies where clients have requested services from those agencies
• To comply with the requirements of the law, or of a law enforcement agency, as established in the Information Privacy Principles

Data Security

The department undertakes to maintain appropriate security and control of all information that it holds in relations to individuals, and to hold such information only for the appropriate period related to the legislation, business practice and historical/cultural context of the function for which the information has been collected.

Openness, Access and Correction

Any information the department holds concerning an individual may be accessed by that individual and in accordance with the provisions of the Information Act as in force on 1 July 2003 and the department’s Information Access Policy 2008.  These also establish procedures through which individuals may request the department to update or correct personal information the department holds about them. 

Application forms to seek access to personal information, and to seek the correction of personal information, are available from www.nt.gov.au./dpifm

Approved

RICHARD GALTON
Chief Executive