This statement sets out the Parliamentary Budget Office’s (PBO) approach to collecting, using, storing and disclosing personal information. The PBO is committed to ensuring that all personal information is handled and protected in accordance with the relevant legislative requirements and privacy principles under the Privacy Act 1988.
The personal information the PBO collects may include identifying information, contact information, feedback information, and employee records. The PBO collects such personal information for a number of general purposes, such as:
- recruitment and management of its workforce (including employees, secondees and contractors),
- management and enforcement of agreements with employees, contractors and third parties,
- communication with individuals and stakeholder groups,
- notify individuals and interested parties of publications and information,
- manage, assess, evaluate and monitor compliance with relevant legislation policies and procedures,
- maintain information for auditing and compliance purposes, and
- obtaining feedback and responding to complaints or enquiries.
The PBO may collect this personal information in a variety of ways, including via email, over the phone or in hardcopy. Where it is unreasonable or impracticable to collect personal information directly from individuals, the PBO may also collect personal information indirectly from other sources.
The PBO discloses data to outsourced service providers for the purposes of those organisations providing ICT, security, financial and payroll services to the PBO. These outsourced providers include the Department of the Senate and the Department of Parliamentary Services. The PBO may also disclose personal information to overseas recipients in limited circumstances. For example, to third party survey providers operating out of the United States of America or European Union.
For more information about how the PBO handles personal information, the PBO’s Privacy Policy can be obtained from the Privacy Officer, by emailing hr@pbo.gov.au. The PBO Privacy Policy also contains information about how to make a request for access to, or correction of, personal information held by the PBO, as well as who to contact for privacy enquires or complaints.
The PBO will also publish a register of all privacy impact assessments we conduct on our website. To date, the PBO has not conducted any privacy impact assessments.
Commitment to the privacy of personal information
The PBO website collects and uses data that indirectly identifies users and in some instances, information which is personal information about users. We take steps to protect information, including personal information, against loss, unauthorised access, use, modification or disclosure, and against other misuse.
Our policy outlines measures implemented to ensure the privacy of personal information collected by the PBO website and, in particular, information collected electronically is secure.
Personal information
The term "personal information" in this privacy policy means any information from which your identity is apparent or can be reasonably ascertained. We do not collect personal information about you when you visit this online service.
You can use this service without telling us who you are or revealing other personal information. If you send us a contact or feedback form you do not need to identify yourself or use your real name.
If you contact us, we will collect the email address you nominate and any other identifying information you provide, such as a name or phone number.
Please do not give us other personal or sensitive information.
Website analytics
The PBO website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Inc. Reports obtained from Google Analytics are used to help improve the efficiency and usability of this website.
Google Analytics uses 'cookies' to help analyse how users use this site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States.
Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of our website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. Google may transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google's behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google.
We use reports provided by Google Analytics to help us understand website traffic and webpage usage.
By using the PBO website, you content to Google processing data about you in the manner and for the purposes set out above. Please refer to Google's Privacy Policy.
Links to other sites
The PBO website contains links to other sites. The PBO is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such websites and has no knowledge if cookies or other tracking devices are used on linked websites.
These other sites may use web measurement tools, customisation technologies and persistent cookies to inform the service they provide to users. You should read the privacy statement published on each website that you visit.