Collection and use of personal information

Council is authorised or required under various legislation to collect your personal information.

Council may collect your personal information so that we can use it for the following purposes:

to review and consider any applications or submissions you have submitted to council (for example, development and building applications, applications for food or entertainment permits)
to process any council-related payments or transactions which you make with us (for example, payment of your council rates), and to identify you and protect you from unauthorised access to your personal or council account information
to carry out any council inspections (for example, building inspections and food or health inspections)
to facilitate and organise Civic and council's community, cultural, corporate, local, national and international events, functions, forums and programs (including citizenship, prizes and awards ceremonies), and where necessary to check your eligibility and record your attendance at such events
to inform you of council and local news and developments or to notify you of council-related developments or events which you have requested to be notified of (for example, council newsletters and notices)
to assess your eligibility to be a council volunteer, and to administer and coordinate council's volunteer programs and to communicate with our volunteers
to protect your safety, security and wellbeing at council-controlled venues, events, functions, forums and programs
to answer any search requests submitted by a member of the public for publicly available information (for example, property-related searches)
to register your pets and animals
to respond to any communications and correspondence you send to us (which includes answering any queries, and dealing with any feedback or complaints you have)
if you are a council employee or have applied for employment at council - to process your employment application, and to process any employment related tasks at any time (for example, to verify employment related matters and information, grant you building and IT access, to manage your salary arrangements)
to investigate any complaints lodged by you in connection with council, its employees, or its functions and activities
to provide you with any council information, services or products you have requested or are designed to better serve or promote Mackay Regional Council
to assist us to determine your needs and requirements to enable us to provide you with the appropriate council services and information you have requested (for example, to direct your call or enquiry to the relevant council department who can assist you)
to maintain any council information databases, records or registers including those that we are required under Federal or State legislation to maintain
to administer and enforce any legislation which council is required to administer and enforce
to verify any information you have provided to us
to get in touch with you should we need to
to take any other further action which we are required or authorised by law to take, including any investigative, enforcement and recovery action
to otherwise perform our functions, duties and activities. This includes but is not limited to any statutory duties we have, including those to other government bodies

The kinds of personal information we collect may include your:

name
residential address
postal address
date of birth
gender
telephone numbers
email address
photo and video images (for example, from security cameras at council-controlled venues)
addresses of your property whether owned or leased by you
credit card information
bank account details
driver licence details
passport details
details of your eligibility for child related employment (for example details of your "blue card" and related correspondence) whether as employee, volunteer or otherwise
your vehicle description and registration details
details of your assets and liabilities, property(ies), your and your invitees' interactions with the council (including council officers, application forms, decisions by the council and enforcement actions by the council affecting you, your property(ies) or your invitee(s)
details of any pets or animals owned by you or registered in your name and any of your interactions with the council regarding such pets or animals
if you have requested council to provide you with certain health-related services (for example, under council's immunisation, Home Assist or Steps to Success programs) - medical history, employment history, educational qualifications, family history, assets and liabilities
copies of correspondence exchanged between council and you, including council records of any interactions council has had with you
if you are a council employee - your council employee ID, employee file, payroll number and your tax file number

As far as possible, we will collect personal information directly from you (for example, during personal meetings, phone conversations, from the council's website or social media or during council's interactions with you including by correspondence or when considering your enquiries, complaints or applications).

However, in certain circumstances, we may collect your personal information from a third party, for example:

if you are a minor - your parents or guardian
other Government departments and bodies (for example, the Department of Communities)
your current or former employer (for example, to obtain a reference check if you are applying for employment with the council)
Council and other databases (for example, to obtain information about your properties in the event of any enforcement action)