Privacy Statement

South Gippsland Shire Council is committed to protecting your privacy and personal information, in compliance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 and it's Information Privacy Principles.

A copy of our Information Privacy Policy is available for your review.

Collection and Use of Personal Information
Council collects personal information on its ratepayers (e.g. names and addresses) in order to carry out its functions (e.g. planning, valuation and property services). It may also request personal information in order to provide education, welfare and other community services (e.g. Aged/Disability care services). In some instances, personal information may be contained on a public register (register of building permits, food premises and animal registration details). Council also holds personal information about its' staff on databases and various registers. Council is committed to ensuring the use of Collection Statements on all points of data collection, to ensure members of the public are aware what their information is being used for.

Providing Your Personal Information to Other Organisations
Council will only use personal information within Council for its collected purposes or use/disclose it outside Council within provisions within the Act (e.g. where you have consented, where it is required by law, or where you would reasonably expect this to occur).

Organisations that Council may need to disclose personal information to (within the provisions made in the Act) include, but are not limited to:

• Legal advisors
• Contracted service providers
• Printing and mailing service
• Insurers
• Debt collection agents
• Government agencies
• Law enforcement bodies and courts

What if You Do Not Wish to Provide Us With Information
In order to carry out its' functions, or provide you with services, Council requires that you provide certain information about yourself. If you do not wish to provide us with all the information we require, we may be unable to provide various services to you, and in some cases, you may be liable to fines under various legislation (e.g. Local Government Act 1989, Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act 1994 etc). Council will ensure that the consequences of not providing personal information, or providing false information, is outlined in each collection statement in each point of data collection.

Your Rights
Under the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014, you have the right to access personal information we hold about you. If the information is incorrect, you have the right to require us to amend the information. However, if your personal information is held in documentary format, requests for access and/or amendment to these documents should be made under the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

Complaints
If you feel that Council has mishandled your personal information, you may make a complaint to Council's Privacy Officer. Your complaint will be investigated as soon as possible and you will be provided with a written response.

Complaints can be made to the Privacy Officer in writing via post to:
Att: Privacy Officer
9 Smith Street
Leongatha VIC 3953

Or via email to: council@southgippsland.vic.gov.au

If you are not satisfied with the response from Council, you may make a complaint to the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) via email: enquiries@ovic.vic.gov.au

Further Information
If you require further information, or would like to access your personal information, please email Council at: council@southgippsland.vic.gov.au