MAST values the privacy of every individual’s personal information
We are committed to protecting the information we collect and use by compliance with the obligations provided under the Personal Information Protection Act 2004.
Protecting your personal information is an important aspect of the way we create, organise and implement our activities online and off-line.
The type of personal information we collect includes names, addresses and telephone numbers, together with any specific information about a person that may be required for the purpose of discharging our functions.
Sensitive Information
Sensitive information includes things like health information, criminal record, racial origin and sexual preferences.
Generally, we will only collect sensitive information with your consent if it is necessary to provide the service, or if the collection of that information is required or permitted by law.
Anonymity
If you are making a general enquiry, it may not be necessary to identify yourself.
However, if you want to obtain a service, identification may be necessary.
Unique Identifiers
We do not assign unique identifiers to people unless it is necessary for us to carry out our functions efficiently or is required by law.
We do not adopt as our unique identifiers the unique identifiers from another organisation. However, we may collect the unique identifiers assigned to you by another organisation, but we will not disclose these without lawful authority.
Access to and correction of information collected
The Personal Information Protection Act 2004 provides that you can access your personal information that is held by MAST.
If you consider the personal information to be incorrect, incomplete, out of date or misleading, you can request that the information be amended.
Requests to correct your personal information held by MAST will be processed under the provisions of the Personal Information Protection Act 2004. For further information contact MAST’s Right to Information Officer :
- Level 1, Port Tower Building, 18 Hunter Street, Hobart
- Telephone – 03 6235 8888
- e-mail – admin@mast.tas.gov.au
Depending upon the nature of the request, a fee may be charged for this service.
If you are not satisfied with the handling or outcome of your request for access to or correction of your personal information, you can lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman’s Office can be contacted on:
- 03 6233 6217, or 1800 001 170 (cost of local call outside Hobart area)
- email – ombudsman@justice.tas.gov.au
Use and disclosure of personal information
Our staff are only provided with or have access to the information that is necessary for them to carry out their functions within MAST. All staff are bound by confidentiality requirements.
Personal information will be used only for the purpose of MAST discharging its functions. Your personal information will only be disclosed with your consent, or if it is required by or authorised by law.
There may be a need or requirement to disclose some or all information we collect to contractors and agents of MAST, law enforcement agencies, courts, or other public sector bodies.
The Personal Information Protection Act permits the disclosure of “basic personal information” (that is, name, address, date of birth and gender) that is collected in conjunction with the provision of a service to other public sector bodies for data quality purposes.
Some de-identified personal information we have collected may be used in research, statistical analysis, state or national reporting, awareness programs, public statements or training, but not in a way to compromise the protection of personal information.
Personal information in written submissions on policy matters or matters of public consultation may be disclosed in reports that are made public, unless the submission was submitted and/or accepted on a confidential basis.
Security of personal information
We use a number of procedural, physical, and technical safeguards, including access controls, secure methods of communication and back-up and recovery systems to protect information from misuse and loss, unauthorised access, modification and disclosure.
Generally, there is an intention that information is destroyed or permanently de-identified when it is no longer required, but this can only be done in accordance with processes approved by the State Archivist under the Archives Act 1983.