Privacy and Security

Privacy and Security

Hinchinbrook Shire Council is committed to protecting personal information in accordance with Queensland’s privacy legislation, including the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld) as amended by the Information Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2023 (IPOLA).

Under the updated Queensland Privacy Principles (QPPs), Council must ensure that personal information is collected, stored, used, and disclosed in a lawful, transparent, and secure manner. These principles promote individual rights, responsible data handling, and public sector accountability.

The Hinchinbrook Shire Council Privacy Statement outlines the categories of personal information we collect, the purposes for which it is used, and the safeguards in place to protect it. It also explains how individuals can access or correct their information and raise privacy concerns.

Website Privacy and Security Statement

Hinchinbrook Shire Council is committed to protecting the privacy of our website users. Council understand and appreciates that visitors to and users of this website are concerned about their privacy and the confidentiality and security of the information they provide to us. 

By visiting Hinchinbrook Shire Council’s website, you are accepting the practices described in this Website Privacy Statement.

For the purposes of this statement, personal information refers to any information that may enable the identification of an individual visitor to the website. As a visitor to the Hinchinbrook Shire Council’s website, you will not be required to disclose personal information to visit or browse our site unless you voluntarily choose to do so. 

When visiting this site, an anonymous record of your visit is logged. This data is collected for statistical purposes and is used to help improve this website. The following information is supplied by your browser (for example Internet Explorer) and collected by us:

• The user's server address
• The user's operating system (for example Windows, MAC)
• The user's top level domain name (for example: .com, .gov)
• The date and time of the visit to the site
• The pages accessed and the documents downloaded
• The previous site visited
• The type of browser used. 

Council may also collect personal information that you choose to give us via online forms or by email.

Email Communications and Personal Information Handling

When you contact Council via email or submit personal information through our online ‘Contact Us’ forms, Council will collect and record your email address and any other information you provide. This information will be used solely for the purpose for which it was submitted, in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld) and the amended privacy obligations under the Information Privacy and Other Legislation Act 2023 (IPOLA).

Your email address will not be added to any mailing list unless you have expressly provided it for that purpose.

Please note that if you do not supply the minimum required information—typically marked with an asterisk, such as your email address—Council may be unable to respond to your enquiry.

Email communications will be monitored by Council’s Business Service Team, in line with Council’s privacy and data governance protocols.

Collection Notice

Hinchinbrook Shire Council collects personal information to deliver services, fulfil statutory obligations, and support safe, inclusive community engagement. This information is managed in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld), as amended by the Information Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2023 (IPOLA), and Queensland’s Child Safe Standards.

Personal information may be collected directly from you or, where appropriate, from third parties such as parents or guardians (for minors), government agencies, or employers. It is stored securely in Council databases, physical records, and digital systems, with safeguards in place to prevent unauthorised access, loss, misuse, or disclosure.

Council uses and discloses personal information only for the purpose for which it was collected, or as permitted under the Queensland Privacy Principles (QPPs). Common categories of information include:

• Contact details (e.g. name, address, phone, email)
• Identity and demographic data (e.g. date of birth, gender, driver licence, passport)
• Financial and property information (e.g. rates, assets, bank details)
• Employment and volunteer eligibility (e.g. Blue Card status)
• Images and recordings (e.g. CCTV footage)
• Correspondence and interaction records
• Animal registration and property-related data

This information may be used to:

• Process applications, permits, payments, and inspections
• Coordinate events, programs, and volunteer activities
• Respond to enquiries, complaints, and feedback
• Administer employment and recruitment processes
• Maintain statutory registers and databases
• Enforce legislation and undertake investigative actions
• Communicate with you regarding Council services and updates

Council collects personal information through various channels including written correspondence, phone, email, online forms, websites, and social media. Where minimum information is not provided, Council may be unable to respond or deliver requested services.

Public Records

Information submitted to Council via email, blog comments, or online web forms may constitute a public record and be retained in accordance with the Public Records Act 2023 (Qld) and other applicable legislation.

Council collects personal information through its website solely for the purpose for which it was provided, and for related internal administrative functions. In line with the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld) as amended by IPOLA, Council ensures that personal information is handled lawfully, transparently, and securely.

Council will not disclose your personal information to other government agencies, organisations, or third parties unless:

• You have provided express or implied consent;
• You would reasonably expect us to do so, or we have informed you of the disclosure;
• The disclosure is required or authorised by law;
• It is necessary to prevent or reduce a serious and imminent threat to life, health, or safety;
• The disclosure is reasonably necessary for law enforcement purposes or the protection of public revenue;

Recognising a Secure Site

A "secure" site is recognised by the closed padlock or an unbroken key coming into view in the bottom status bar in your web browser. You can also check to make sure that a valid site certificate is being used. A site certificate is used to validate a site's authority to use SSL and authenticates the website's state of security. This enables you to check the site's validity yourself. You can do this by double clicking on either the closed padlock or the unbroken key.

Website analytics

To improve your experience on our site, we may use 'cookies'. Cookies are an industry standard and most major websites use them. A cookie is a small test file that our site may place on your computer as a tool to remember your preferences. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser, however please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website.

Council uses Google Analytics to gather statistics about how the website is accessed. Google Analytics uses cookies to gather information for the purpose of providing statistical reporting.

The information gathered by the cookie about your use of the website will be transmitted and stored by Google on servers located outside of Australia. No personally identifying information is recorded or provided to Google.

Information gathered using the Google Analytics cookie includes:

• The number of visitors to Council's website
• How visitors arrive at Council's website, for example, did they type the address in directly, follow a link from another webpage or arrive via a search engine?
• The number of times each page is viewed and for how long
• Time and date of visit
• Geographical location of the visitor
• Information about what browser was used to view Council's website and the operating system of the computer
• Information about whether the browser supports Java and Flash
• The speed of the user's internet connection.

This information is used to refine and improve Council’s online service delivery and in turn the community’s online experience.

Security

Hinchinbrook Shire Council is committed to safeguarding personal information in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld), as amended by the Information Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2023 (IPOLA).

Council takes reasonable steps to protect personal information from loss, unauthorised access, use, modification, disclosure, and other forms of misuse, consistent with QPP 11. This includes physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards across Council-managed systems and devices.

Please note that while Council implements robust internal security measures, it does not provide a secure transmission mechanism for information shared across the Internet. Individuals are encouraged to consider alternative methods for submitting sensitive information where appropriate.

Hinchinbrook Shire Council’s website may include links to external websites for informational or service-related purposes. Please note that Council is not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of these third-party sites.

In accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld), as amended by the Information Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2023 (IPOLA), users are advised to review the privacy policies and terms of use of any external websites they visit to understand how their personal information may be collected, used, or disclosed.

Links to other sites

Council's website may contain links to other websites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. When you go to other websites from here, we advise you to be aware and read their privacy policy.

Website Disclaimer

While the Hinchinbrook Shire Council has made every reasonable effort to ensure all the information contained within this site is both accurate and current, users should contact Council if they have any concern in relation to information presented. Council does not accept any liability for any statements or opinion, or for any errors or omissions contained within this site. All users accessing the site are responsible for assessing the relevance and accuracy of its contents. Links to other websites are provided purely for convenience and do not constitute endorsement of any material contained within these sites.

No reliance should be placed on information contained or to be implied or inferred from this website without checking out the details with an authorised officer of Hinchinbrook Shire Council. Council reserves the right to monitor all use of its computer systems and communication networks through authorised systems administrators.

Copyright and Intellectual Property

The information contained herein is the property of the Hinchinbrook Shire Council. Information may be downloaded, displayed, printed and copied in an unaltered form only. It is not to be distributed or used for commercial purposes without the written permission of the Chief Executive Officer of the Hinchinbrook Shire Council. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved.

Internet Usage Policy

Public WiFi Acceptable Use Terms and Conditions

Hinchinbrook Shire Council provides a number of public WiFi hotspots across the municipality via the Latrobe City Public WiFi Network, allowing community members and visitors access to free internet connectivity at those locations (the Service).

Access to, and use of, the Service is subject to Hinchinbrook Shire Council’s Public WiFi Acceptable Use Terms and Conditions set out below (the Terms and Conditions). By accessing and using the Service, you agree to be bound by the Terms and Conditions without exception or limitation and assume all responsibility and risk arising out of or in connection with your use of the Service. Hinchinbrook Shire Council may modify these Terms and Conditions at any time. You should therefore review them each time you log in.

1. Usage and Service Availability

Session time and download limits may be applied to use of the Service as deemed necessary by Hinchinbrook Shire Council at its discretion. These limits may be altered at any time without notice.

The Service may be altered, suspended, withdrawn or discontinued at any time without notice, at the discretion of Hinchinbrook Shire Council.

The Service is provided to you on an “as is” and “as available” basis. No warranty or representation of any kind is given in relation to the accessibility, security, quality or level of the Service.

The Service is not suitable for supporting any applications or use which require continuous, fault-free network connectivity or uninterrupted data traffic flow.

2. Unacceptable Use

The Service must not be used:

• For business or commercial use;
• In a way that could damage or interfere with the operation, integrity or performance of the Service or the equipment used by Hinchinbrook Shire Council to provide the Service;
• To send, allow to be sent or assist in the sending of unsolicited commercial messages or bulk emails;
• To gain access to, send, publish, promote or solicit receipt of material that is abusive, sexist, racist, unlawful, defamatory, harassing, menacing, threatening, pornographic, offensive, obscene, indecent, or discriminatory in nature;
• In a way that intentionally infringes copyright, patent, trademark, design or other intellectual property rights;
• For illegal, fraudulent or malicious purposes;
• For unauthorised accessing of computers, accounts, equipment or networks belonging to another party or unauthorised monitoring of electronic communications;
• To use or knowingly distribute any malicious computer code or software such as viruses, malware, Trojans, keyboard loggers, worms or data harvesting software; or
• In a way that could cause Hinchinbrook Shire Council to breach any law or incur a liability to a third party, or that could reflect poorly on the reputation of Hinchinbrook Shire Council.

3. Responsibility for Content

Hinchinbrook Shire Council does not exercise control over the content of websites you access while using the Service and makes no warranty or representation as to the accuracy, relevance or quality of any material you access or that such material is fit for any particular purpose.

4. Security

The Service is provided on an open and public basis and Hinchinbrook Shire Council cannot guarantee security of the Service at all times.

The onus is on you as the user to take reasonable measures to protect the security of your device and data. It is recommended you do not send or receive sensitive personal information during your use of the Service.

5. Supervision of Minors

Hinchinbrook Shire Council does not assume responsibility for monitoring or supervising minors in their access to or use of Council services, including digital platforms. In accordance with IPOLA and Queensland’s Child Safe Standards, the supervision and management of a minor’s engagement with Council services remains the responsibility of their parent or legal guardian.

6. Privacy

Information about your device type, web browser and operating system may be collected, stored and used by Hinchinbrook Shire Council for the purposes of monitoring and improving the Service for users.

Hinchinbrook Shire Council may also collect, store, use and disclose your personal information for the purposes of delivering the Service or as required or authorised by law. Any personal information collected will be handled in accordance with all applicable privacy laws.

Hinchinbrook Shire Council is not responsible for third party collection or use of personal information and it is recommended you make your own enquiries to satisfy yourself in relation to the privacy policies of websites that you access.

7. Indemnification and Limitation of Liability

You will indemnify and hold harmless Hinchinbrook Shire Council and its personnel from and against any loss, damage, liability, charge, expense or cost (including reasonable legal and other professional costs on a full indemnity basis) arising out of or in connection with a breach by you of these Terms and Conditions.

Your use of the Service is at your own risk.

To the extent permitted by law, Hinchinbrook Shire Council and its personnel will not be liable for any costs or damages arising from or incidental to your access to and use of the Service including but not limited to:

• Loss of revenue, profit, anticipated savings, opportunity, data, goodwill, reputation or productivity and any indirect or consequential loss; and
• Direct or indirect damage to devices or loss of data.

Where liability cannot be excluded by law, it is limited to the minimum liability allowable by law.

8. Breach

Failure to comply with these Terms and Conditions may result in Hinchinbrook Shire Council exercising its right to suspend or permanently revoke your access to Council services, including digital platforms, in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld) as amended by the Information Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2023 (IPOLA). This action may be taken to uphold Council’s legal obligations, protect personal information, and maintain the integrity of its systems and services.

Please note - you will be required to re-log into HSC FREE PUBLIC WIFI every eight hours.