Privacy statement

Information that we collect

When you look at the pages on this website, our computers automatically record information that identifies, for each page accessed:

the IP (Internet Protocol) address of the machine which has accessed it your top-level domain name (for example .com, .gov, .au, .uk etc.) the address of your server the date and time of your visit to the site the pages accessed, documents downloaded and keywords searched on the website the previous website visited the type of browser and operating system you have used the number of screen colours displayed on the device the time spent on each page. Only some of this information may be considered personal information. We may also collect your personal information if you use the feedback facilities on this website. See below for “What we do with feedback and form information”.

How we collect this information

Cookies

'Cookies' are small pieces of text data that a web server can store on, and later retrieve from, a user's computer. They do not personally identify you, but do identify your browser. Cookies can be either 'persistent' or 'session' based. Persistent cookies are stored on your computer, contain an expiration date, and may be used to track your browsing behaviour upon return to the issuing web site. Session cookies are short-lived, are used only during a browsing session, and expire when you shut down your browser.

This website uses persistent cookies.

They record your preferences in relation to your use of the website and provide us with other information about your enquiry that allows us to recognise your browser if you return to this website in the future. This allows the Departments to present information that may be most relevant to you based on your previous visits. They also help the Departments to understand what parts of the website users find the most useful and improve the effectiveness of the website.

The cookies on this website do not read the information on your hard drive. They do not make your computer perform any actions or make your computer send information to any other computer via the internet. The Departments make no attempt to associate cookies with users' names or identities. Our server cannot find out your name or email address, or anything about your computer, by using cookies.

Google Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics, a reporting service provided by Google, Inc. (‘Google’) and its subsidiaries. Google Analytics uses ‘cookies’ to help us analyse how users navigate the website. The information generated by cookies 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 the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity.

Google may also 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. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser. Please note, whoever, if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website.

By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above. For more details visit Google Analytics Terms of Service.

How we use the information collected

The information collected during each visit is aggregated with similar logged information and published in reports in order for the us to identify patterns of usage of the website. This will assist us in improving this website and the services offered on it.

Feedback that is received from you through the website will be used according to what we do with feedback and form information.

We will not disclose or publish information that identifies individual machines, or potentially identifies sub-groupings of addresses, without consent.

What we do with feedback

This website provides feedback facilities to allow users to provide their details for an enquiry into a service we can provide.

This feedback will not be passed on to a third party.

We will not add your email address or name to any mailing list.

Security of information collection and storage

Yes. Information collected is stored in an appropriately secure format and held by the departments for archival purposes. When the information is no longer required for the purposes for which it was collected it is deleted.

Policy updates

Due to the developing nature of privacy principles for online communication, this policy may be modified or expanded in light of new developments or issues that may arise from time to time. The amended policy will be posted to this website and will operate from the time it is posted.