Privacy Policy

Maurice Blackburn Commercial respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information.

Like many businesses, Maurice Blackburn is subject to the provisions of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (‘the Privacy Act’), and must follow the National Privacy Principles (‘NPPs’) contained in the Privacy Act. The NPPs deal with the way in which organisations such as Maurice Blackburn can legally collect, use, store and disclose personal and sensitive information.

This document explains how Maurice Blackburn collects, uses, discloses and protects personal and sensitive information regarding individuals.

What Are Personal Information and Sensitive Information?

Personal information is information that we collect from you in the course of our business. It includes all records of information and opinions (whether those opinions are true or not) about you from which your identity can reasonably be ascertained.

Sensitive informationis a particular kind of personal information. It is personal information of a sensitive and confidential nature and includes information about:

Your political or religious beliefs;

Your membership of a political party or association;

Your racial or ethnic origin;

Your membership of a professional association or trade union;

Your sexual preferences or practices;

Your criminal record;

Your physical or mental health.

Principle 1 -How Maurice Blackburn collects your personal and health information

Maurice Blackburn provides legal and related services, including providing information and advice to clients and parties related to their matters including courts and statutory authorities. The operation of Maurice Blackburn’s business frequently requires Maurice Blackburn to collect, use and/or disclose both personal and sensitive information about individuals including:

Name, contact details, and personal details such as date of birth and family situation;

Information and documents relating to health, medical history and treatment, including full details of any injury;

Information and documents relating to employment, including trade union membership;

Financial and taxation records; and

Details of any criminal record.

Principle 2 -How Maurice Blackburn uses your personal and health information

In accordance with the NPPs, it is Maurice Blackburn’s policy to collect only such personal or sensitive information that is related to the provision of legal and related services, including provision of information and advice about Maurice Blackburn’s services.

Where information of a personal or sensitive nature is collected Maurice Blackburn will aim to advise the individual of:

The purpose for which the information is being collected;

Whether or not Maurice Blackburn is legally required to collect the information; and

Persons, organisations and agencies to which the information is likely to be disclosed.

In this context, your personal information may be conveyed to other Departments within Maurice Blackburn if Maurice Blackburn considers that those Departments could provide an appropriate legal service to you. You may also be contacted by Maurice Blackburn from time to time to determine whether you wish to use any additional services.

Principle 3 -Maurice Blackburn will keep your information up to date

Maurice Blackburn will take reasonable steps to ensure that your personal information is accurate, complete and up to date at the time of collecting, using or disclosing the information. Maurice Blackburn depends upon you to advise us of changes in the personal details. Maurice Blackburn may ask you to verify information obtained to ensure it is accurate. If you are aware that the current personal or health information that Maurice Blackburn hold about you is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date you should notify us. As soon as practical Maurice Blackburn will update the information.

Principle 4 -Maurice Blackburn will store your personal or health information securely

Your information will be held in your own unique client file that is stored in a secure environment. The information can only be accessed by people properly authorised to have access so as to enable Maurice Blackburn to provide you with legal and related services.

Principle 5 -Maurice Blackburn will tell you how your information is managed

It is Maurice Blackburn’s policy to:

Require staff to keep client information in files in filing cabinets and not in view of the public;

Require staff to keep client profiles up to date;

Require staff not to take files from the premises (except as required for attending mediations, hearings etcetera or to provide the file to another Maurice Blackburn office);

Require staff to dispose of documents using secure document disposal system;

Safely archive files that are no longer current;

Securely destroy files after 7 years or when the file is no longer needed for the proper administration of the client’s matter, whichever is longer.

Principle 6 -Accessing your personal information

At your request, Maurice Blackburn will provide you with access to the personal and health information that Maurice Blackburn hold about you. There are some exceptions limiting Maurice Blackburn’s ability to provide you with access. If that occurs, Maurice Blackburn will explain to you why such information cannot be disclosed.

Principle 7 -You will be given a file number

Upon your engaging Maurice Blackburn to act on your behalf, a file will be opened in your name. This file has a specific file number that is unique to you and the particular legal issue. This will be used in all correspondence with respect to that matter.

Principle 8 -Dealing with your anonymity

If you retain Maurice Blackburn to provide legal and related services it will not be possible for you to maintain anonymity when dealing with Maurice Blackburn with respect to your matter.

Principle 9 -Passing on your information

Maurice Blackburn will take all reasonable steps to ensure your privacy is protected when Maurice Blackburn needs to physically or electronically transport your personal or health information. Maurice Blackburn will destroy information if it is no longer needed, or at the expiry of 7 years from the date that your file has been concluded, or when the file is no longer needed for the proper administration of your matter, whichever is longer.

Principle 10 -Sensitive information

In the course of providing legal and related services to you it may be necessary that Maurice Blackburn collect sensitive information about you. This can be information relating to your racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, details of membership of associations, sexual preferences or practices or your criminal record. Maurice Blackburn will not use or disclose this information unless it is directly relevant to providing legal services to you.

Enquiries

If you have any questions about privacy-related issues please contact our Privacy Officer, David Halstead on (03) 9605 2700.

Further information can be attained at the Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner who can be contacted at privacy@privacy.gov.au or telephone 1300 363 992.