About the WA.gov.au platform
The Department of the Premier and Cabinet, WA (DPC, we, us) manages the WA.gov.au platform. WA.gov.au is the WA Government's central website for publishing government information and connecting people with services provided by WA Government agencies.
The WA.gov.au platform includes webpages published under the domain www.wa.gov.au (for example, www.wa.gov.au/terms-of-use). It does not include websites operated by other WA Government agencies under separate domains (for example, the Department of Health or the Department of Education).
About this privacy statement
This privacy statement explains how we handle personal information when operating the WA.gov.au platform. It covers what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we hold, use, manage and disclose personal information, and how you can exercise your privacy rights.
We only collect personal information where it is necessary for WA Government functions or activities, or otherwise authorised by law. We aim to collect the minimum amount of personal information needed to provide services, respond to enquiries, operate the WA.gov.au platform and meet our legal obligations.
We are required to handle personal information in accordance with the Privacy and Responsible Information Sharing Act 2024 (WA). In this privacy statement, the terms ‘personal information’ and 'handle' have the meaning given to them in that Act.
Other WA Government Services
The WA.gov.au platform provides access to information and services (including websites, online forms and applications) provided by different WA Government agencies. We refer to these as Other WA Government Services. Each WA Government agency is responsible for the personal information it handles.
When you use Other WA Government Services, the relevant agency is responsible for how it collects, holds, uses, manages and discloses your personal information. The Other WA Government Service will include a privacy statement or collection notice explaining those arrangements. For more specific information, please refer to the collection notice or privacy statement for the Other WA Government Service.
What information we collect
You can browse most of the WA.gov.au platform without providing personal information, other than some technical information – please see the 'Automatic collection through the WA.gov.au platform' section below for more information about the technical information we collect.
If you contact the WA.gov.au platform web administrator using:
- the email link on the WA.gov.au platform, we will receive the email address you sent it from, together with your name (if included in the email account details), the content of your message and any attachments or other information you provide.
- the technical issue form on the WA.gov.au platform, we will receive the information provided in the message field. This form is specifically to report technical issues. Do not include sensitive or personal information when reporting technical issues.
If you provide us with personal information about another person, you must ensure you have their permission to provide us with their information, or are otherwise authorised to do so.
Why we collect your personal information
We collect your information to:
- answer your questions and requests;
- provide a service you requested;
- help connect you with the right government agency;
- improve and monitor the performance of the WA.gov.au platform;
- understand how people use the WA.gov.au platform;
- keep the WA.gov.au platform secure;
- meet our legal obligations; and
- support the delivery and improvement of WA Government information, programs and services.
In some circumstances, if you do not provide certain personal information (such as your contact details), we may not be able to respond to your enquiry.
Automatic collection through the WA.gov.au platform
We use some automated tools to gather information about visitors to the WA.gov.au platform, and to help run and improve the WA.gov.au platform and deliver government services.
When you visit the WA.gov.au platform, some technical and usage information may be collected automatically through the WA.gov.au platform, its server infrastructure, cookies, analytics services and security tools. This may include:
- your IP address
- your browser and device information
- the date and time of your visit
- URL of the pages visited and links selected, including documents downloaded
- searches performed
- referring website information
- approximate geographic location derived from your internet connection
- information about errors, performance or suspected malicious activity
We use this information to help operate, analyse, improve and secure the WA.gov.au platform.
Some technical information may be personal information if it can identify you, either on its own or when combined with other information. We do not routinely use this information to identify individual visitors, but may do so if it is reasonably necessary – for example, to investigate security incidents or misuse, respond to a lawful request, or meet our legal obligations.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics, a web analytics service that collects the data listed in the 'Automatic collection through the WA.gov.au platform' section above, to provide us with information on how website visitors use the WA.gov.au platform.
Information collected through Google Analytics may be processed and stored on Google's systems, including systems located outside Australia. Google may use this information in accordance with its own privacy policies and terms of service. To find out more about the information Google collects and how it is used, go to How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services.
Cookies
We use cookies and similar technologies to help the WA.gov.au platform function properly, understand how people use the platform and improve user experience. You can manage or disable cookies through your web browser settings. Some features and functions on the WA.gov.au platform may not work correctly if cookies are disabled.
Who we share your information with
WA Government agencies: If you use a 'contact us' or feedback form on the WA.gov.au platform, and that 'contact us' or feedback form is for a particular WA Government agency or Other WA Government Service, then we share your name, email address and the information you provided in your message directly to the relevant WA Government agency. The WA Government agency that receives your enquiry will manage your information in accordance with its own privacy policies.
Third-party providers: We may use third-party service providers to host, support, secure or maintain the WA.gov.au platform. If any third-party service providers handle personal information on our behalf, we require them to protect that information and only use it for authorised purposes.
Others: We may also disclose your information to:
- other government agencies in WA and Australia to prevent, or in connection with any investigation in relation to, fraud or misuse of government-issued information; and
- anyone else we are required or authorised by law to disclose your information to (for example a court or tribunal, or another government body).
Automated decision-making
DPC does not use personal information collected through the WA.gov.au platform to make automated decisions about an individual’s eligibility for government services or benefits.
Some WA Government agencies may use automated decision-making tools as a part of providing Other WA Government Services. See the relevant agency’s privacy statement or collection notice for more information about how personal information is used in relation to automated decisions.
How we protect your information
While we take reasonable steps to protect information, no online system can be completely secure.
The security measures and other reasonable steps we take to protect personal information collected through the WA.gov.au platform may include:
- secure hosting and storage arrangements, including encryption where appropriate
- access controls that limit information access to authorised personnel
- monitoring and logging to identify suspicious activity and security incidents
- cyber security protections designed to prevent unauthorised access, loss, misuse or alteration
- privacy and information security training for staff
How long we keep your information
We retain personal information for as long as required to fulfil the purpose for which it was collected and to meet our legal, audit and recordkeeping obligations, including under the State Records Act 2000 (WA).
When personal information is no longer required, and where allowed by law, our practice is to destroy or delete it.
Accessing, correcting or deleting personal information
If you wish to access personal information DPC holds about you in connection with the operation of the WA.gov.au platform, please contact us at foi@dpc.wa.gov.au.
If personal information we hold about you is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date, you may request that it be corrected. Before correcting your personal information, we may need to verify your identity. In some circumstances we may be unable to delete information because we are required by law to retain certain government records.
Information collected automatically during a visit to the WA.gov.au platform may not identify you by name. DPC may not be able to locate technical or analytics information relating specifically to you unless sufficient information is available to identify the relevant records.
If your request concerns information collected in connection with Other WA Government Services, please contact the WA Government agency responsible for that service.
Privacy complaints
If you have concerns or issues about how we handle your personal information through the WA.gov.au platform, you can make a privacy complaint in accordance with DPC’s Privacy Policy or contact us at admin@dpc.wa.gov.au.
Where necessary to investigate or resolve your complaint, we may share relevant information with any other WA Government agency involved in the matter.
If your concern relates to Other WA Government Services, please contact the relevant WA Government agency directly using the information provided in its privacy statement or collection notice. If we receive a complaint that relates to another WA Government agency or Other WA Government Services, we may refer you to the relevant agency.
Changes to this privacy statement
We may update this privacy statement from time to time.
Any changes will be published on the WA.gov.au platform.
We encourage you to check this page regularly to stay informed about how we protect your information.
