Privacy

Introduction

1. The Privacy Act 1988 requires entities bound by the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) to
   have a privacy policy. This privacy policy outlines the personal information handling practices
   of the Australian Human Rights Commission (Commission). Commission employees and
   prospective employees should also refer to our Human Resources Privacy Policy.
2. The specific legal obligations of the Commission when collecting and handling your personal
   information are outlined in the Privacy Act 1988 and in particular in the APPs found in that Act.
   We will update this privacy policy when our information handling practices change. Updates will be publicised on our website.
3. We collect, hold, use and disclose personal information in order to perform the functions or activities under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (AHRC Act), Australian Human Rights Commission Regulations 1989, Age Discrimination Act 2004, Disability Discrimination Act 1992, Racial Discrimination Act 1975, Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). These functions and activities include:

• inquiring into, and attempting to conciliate, complaints of unlawful discrimination and breaches of human rights
• inquiring into any act or practice that may be inconsistent with or contrary to any human right
• promoting an understanding and acceptance, and the public discussion, of human rights in Australia
• undertaking research and educational programs and other programs, on behalf of the Commonwealth, for the purpose of promoting human rights, and to co-ordinate any such programs undertaken by any other persons or authorities on behalf of the Commonwealth
• reporting to the Minister as to the laws that should be made by the Parliament, or action that should be taken by the Commonwealth, on matters relating to human rights
• preparing guidelines on human rights and discrimination
• intervening in court proceedings that involve discrimination and human rights issues
• processing applications for temporary exemptions under the Federal discrimination laws
• responding to enquiries and requests
• communicating with the public, stakeholders and the media including through websites and social media
• assessing suitable candidates for career opportunities within the Commission.

4. For the avoidance of doubt, any information that we collect, hold, use and disclose will be governed by the most current version of this privacy policy. The only exception to this will be where we conduct a Competition, Survey or function or activity that has its own terms and conditions. In such instances, notice of those terms and conditions will be provided to you at the time your personal information is sought and will override this privacy policy to the extent of any inconsistency.