PRIVACY POLICY

1.1 This Privacy Policy (Policy) applies to Gazette News Operating Company Pty Ltd ACN 678 347 754 (Gazette, we, our, or us) and describes how Gazette collects, handles, and protects the privacy of your personal information.

 

1.2 Gazette produces local news distributed via email, social media, website, and print delivered to homes. Our content includes original reporting, commentary, explainers, user-generated content, and licensed materials.

 

1.3 We are committed to protecting your privacy and understand the importance of protecting your personal information. This Policy outlines the types of personal information that we usually collect, the purposes for which we collect it, to whom we disclose it, how we hold and keep it secure, and your rights in relation to your personal information, including how to complain and how we deal with complaints.

 

1.4 We will handle your personal information in accordance with this Policy and applicable laws, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under that Act.

 

1.5 In this Policy, personal information means any information or opinion about an identified individual or an individual who is reasonably identifiable, whether true or not. It does not include information that has been de-identified.

 

1.6 In this Policy, sensitive information means:

(a) any information or opinion about an individual’s:
(i) racial or ethnic origin;
(ii) political opinions;
(iii) membership of a political association;
(iv) religious beliefs or affiliations;
(v) philosophical beliefs;
(vi) membership of a professional or trade association;
(vii) membership of a trade union;
(viii) sexual orientation or practices; or
(ix) criminal record,

that is also personal information;

(b) health information about an individual;
(c) genetic information about an individual that is not otherwise health information;
(d) biometric information that is to be used for the purpose of automated biometric verification or biometric identification; or
(e) biometric templates.

 

1.7 This Policy does not apply to the personal information of our employees.

 

1.8 We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time by updating our website.

2.1 The types of personal information we collect about you depends on the dealings you have with us and may include:

(a) name, address, email address, and phone number;
(b) information about you such as your preferences and demographic information;
(c) the name of the organisation you work for and your professional title;
(d) your interests and preferences;
(e) any user-generated content; and
(f) if you are a contractor, service provider, or another third party, business information such as name, contact information, service details, and payment information.

 

2.2 If you are applying for a job with us, we may also collect your:

(a) employment history and qualifications;
(b) academic records;
(c) references;
(d) medical information;
(e) personal alternative contact details;
(f) superannuation fund details; and
(g) criminal history record.

3.1 Where possible and lawful, you may interact with us anonymously or using a pseudonym. For example, when receiving content submissions via the website or handling general inquiries, we will not record your name unless we need it to adequately address your question.

3.2 However, for many of our functions and activities, we usually need your name, contact information, and other details to enable us to provide our services or products to you.

4.1 We may collect personal information from or about you in different ways, including:

(a) from you directly when you interact with us, for example from our discussions with you, when you complete a form, if you subscribe to our services, any content submissions you may make, your emails to us, and your interactions with our website;
(b) through third parties with whom we interact in order to provide our services; and
(c) from publicly available sources, including social media.

 

4.2 If you apply for a job or contract position with us, we may also collect personal information about you from third parties and publicly available sources, including from:

(a) recruiters;
(b) government departments to verify your entitlement to work in Australia;
(c) police agencies to obtain your criminal history record;
(d) academic institutions;
(e) consulting medical practitioners;
(f) superannuation fund providers;
(g) your current or previous employers; or
(h) your referees.

5.1 When you visit our website, we may use ‘cookies’, ‘pixels’, or other similar tracking technologies that help us track your website usage and remember your preferences. Cookies are small files that store information on your computer, mobile phone, or other device. They enable the entity that put the cookie on your device to recognise you across different websites, services, devices, and/or browsing sessions. You can disable cookies through your internet browser, but our website may not work as intended for you if you do so.

 

5.2 Whilst we do not use browsing information to identify you personally, we may record certain information about your use of our website, such as which pages you visit, the time and date of your visit, search engine referrals, and the IP address assigned to your computer.

 

5.3 Our web pages may contain electronic images, known as web beacons. These electronic images enable us to count users who have visited certain pages on our website. Web beacons are not used by us to access your personal information; they are simply a tool we use to analyse which web pages are viewed, in an aggregate number.

6.1 We collect your personal information for the following purposes:

(a) to provide our services, including news distribution and content personalisation;

(b) to offer or promote our products and services;

(c) to obtain feedback;

(d) to help us manage, develop, and enhance our services, including our websites and applications;

(e) to measure the impact of our news service;

(f) to manage relationships, for example, for the purpose of communicating with subscribers, job applicants, or contractors;

(g) for research and development, for example, analysing audience engagement and content performance;

(h) to consider your suitability for employment; and

(i) in order to comply with our legal and regulatory obligations, to resolve disputes, and to enforce our agreements and rights with third parties.

7.1 In the course of providing our products and services to you, we may disclose your personal information to the following persons:

(a) organisations that provide services to us, such as email marketing platforms, payment processors, advertising partners, software suppliers, and other third-party service providers;

(b) anyone to whom part or all of our assets or businesses are transferred or sold;

(c) our professional advisers, including our lawyers, accountants, and auditors; and

(d) where permitted or required by law, government agencies, regulatory bodies, and law enforcement agencies, or other similar entities.

 

7.2 Some of these organisations may be located in the United States or the European Union.

8.1 We may use your personal information to identify products or services that you may be interested in and/or to contact you about them (such as local events or local promotions). We may, with your consent, use the personal information we have collected about you to contact you from time to time, whether by email or SMS, to tell you about new products or services and special offers that we believe may be of interest to you.

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8.2 You can withdraw your consent to receiving direct marketing communications from us at any time by unsubscribing from the mailing list, by clicking on a link in the marketing communication, or by contacting our Privacy Officer (please see paragraph 13 below).

9.1 We store your personal information in hard copy and electronically. Electronic information may be stored by our third-party storage providers. We take all reasonable and appropriate steps (including organisational and technological measures) to protect your personal information from misuse, interference, and loss, as well as from unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure.

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9.2 We will only keep your personal information for as long as it is required for the purpose for which it was collected or as otherwise required by applicable law. If we no longer need to hold your personal information for any reason or we are no longer required by law to keep it, we will take reasonable steps to de-identify or destroy that information. These steps may vary depending on the nature of the information, the way it was collected, and how it was stored.

10.1 We will endeavour to ensure that the personal information collected from you is up to date, accurate, and complete.

 

10.2 You may request access to, or correction of, the personal information we hold about you at any time by contacting the Privacy Officer. We will need to verify your identity before responding to your request. Subject to any applicable exceptions or requirements, we will provide you with access to the personal information that you request within a reasonable time (and usually within 28 days). If we decide to refuse your request, we will tell you why in writing and how to complain.

11.1 You can make a complaint in writing to our Privacy Officer using the details set out in this Policy. We will respond to you within a reasonable period of time to acknowledge your complaint and inform you of the next steps we will take in dealing with your complaint.

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11.2 If you are not satisfied with our response, you may complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) via the OAIC website, www.oaic.gov.au.

If you have questions or comments regarding this Policy or wish to make a complaint or exercise your privacy rights, please contact our Privacy Officer:

 

Sean Dillon

Director of Audience Growth

Spaces Level 16 and 17

1 Denison Street

North Sydney NSW 2060

privacy@gazettenews.au

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Dated: November, 2024