Privacy

Clickstreams are the paths you take when navigating a website and the internet. When you visit a business.gov.au site, our servers may record the following information for statistical purposes:

• where you click, scroll or hover with your mouse
• your server (IP) address and machine name
• location details such as longitude, latitude, city, region and country
• the date and time you visited the site
• the top level domain name
• pages accessed and documents downloaded
• the number of bytes transmitted and received for each request
• the previous site or page visited
• search terms used
• the type of browser used.

We examine this information to determine the traffic through the server and to specific pages or applications. This is so we can deliver better services. We also conduct statistical analysis to set priorities and allocate resources.

We will not identify users or their browsing activities. The only time this could happen is in the unlikely event of an investigation, where a law enforcement agency may exercise a warrant to inspect server logs. We may keep statistics and log files indefinitely and use them at any time to prevent security breaches and to ensure the integrity of our site information.

Cookies are files created by the websites you visit that are saved onto your device. They can help websites remember information about your visit, which can make it easier to visit the website again and make it a better experience when you come back.

We use cookies to collect and store information about how you use the business.gov.au website, such as the pages you visit. We cannot find out your name, email address or anything on your computer by using cookies. 

Learn how we use cookies on business.gov.au and how you can select your cookie preferences.

We use Google Analytics to help improve the efficiency and usability of our website. Google Analytics gathers statistics about how people access and use our website. It anonymously tracks things like:

• your country
• what you did on the site (such as news registration)
• your IP address.

Google stores this information and uses it to:

• evaluate use of our website
• compile report on website activity for website operators
• provide other services relating to website activity and internet usage.

Google may transfer this information to third parties where required to by law, or where third parties process the information on Google's behalf.

By using this website, you consent to Google processing data about you. Check Google's Privacy Policy for more information.

You can opt out of Google Analytics by disabling cookies and JavaScript, or using Google’s opt-out service. You can also find their contact details on Google's Contact us page.

We use Google Tag Manager to improve the efficiency and usability of business.gov.au by measuring traffic and visitor behaviour.

Google Tag Manager uses tags that allow us to:

• measure traffic and visitor behaviour
• understand the impact of online advertising and social channels
• use remarketing and audience targeting
• test and improve our site.

Google Tag Manager does not collect any personally identifiable information. Information about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be stored by Google on servers outside Australia. By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google. Check Google's Privacy Policy for more information. You can opt out of Google Analytics by disabling cookies, JavaScript, or using Google’s opt-out service.

If you wish to contact Google, you can find contact details on Google's Contact us page.

We host SmartForms separately from the business.gov.au website. Only this section of the privacy statement is relevant to the SmartForms service. SmartForms does not record clickstream data, use cookies, Google Analytics or Tag Manager.

We will only use personal information contained in the SmartForms to provide you with a department service or program.

Avoka host our SmartForm service. Avoka (part of Temenos Infinity) don’t have permission to access your personal information. But we may provide them with approval to access data in the SmartForm for incident diagnosis only.

We recommend you read the department's Privacy statement and the department's Privacy Policy on the Department of Industry, Science and Resources website, as well as the Temenos Privacy Policy.

The department and Avoca do not access information in a SmartForm for non-department programs (for example, a program provided by another government agency).

The only exception is when we require access to your information to troubleshoot technical errors. In this situation, we’ll only access the data when our client agencies ask us to and give us permission.

If you use a SmartForm for another agency’s service or program, you should also refer to that agency’s privacy policy.

business.gov.au will only record your email address and personal information if you supply it to us through our website, either by sending a message or completing and submitting a form.

The business.gov.au website hosts SmartForms and the ABN Lookup website.

When you use these applications you need to provide personal information. This information will be used only for the purpose you provide it for. We won’t:

• add it to a mailing list unless you ask us to
• disclose or redistribute it unless we have your permission or we’re authorised or required by an Australian law, court or tribunal order.

Collection of personal information through our website

Personally identifiable information about you is collected only when you knowingly and voluntarily submit it to us. It may be used for acknowledgement and training purposes or future reference unless we disclose other uses in this Privacy Statement or at the time of collection.

If you provide us with your email address, it will not be added to any other mailing list or disclosed without your consent.

When you use business.gov.au's social media pages, you are using an external site so are bound by their privacy principles. We encourage you to review their privacy policies. business.gov.au does not endorse, and is not accountable for, any views expressed by third parties using that site.

business.gov.au records all information posted to our social media channels and uses it:

• to administer the channels
• for record keeping
• to consider or address any comments made.

We do not try to further identify social media subscribers unless requested and authorised by law.

Sharing our content through social media

business.gov.au uses social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, X and Instagram. If you choose to "like" or "share" or "recommend" information from this website through these services, you should review their privacy policy.

If you're a member of a social media site, these interfaces may allow it to connect your visits to this website with other personal information.

We use an online marketing platform by Swift Digital to send and manage emails. When you subscribe, the company collects your personal information.

All information collected using the Swift Digital service is the property of our department and is never shared or used by third parties. Swift Digital manages your data in compliance with Australia's Spam Act 2003 and Australian privacy provisions.

Swift Digital maintains data within Australia. It never leaves Australian jurisdiction. Where stipulated data is encrypted in transit using SSL connections. All data Swift Digital stores is encrypted at rest.

We understand you may not feel comfortable subscribing under these terms and conditions.

If you still wish to receive the information provided in our email updates, you can get the same information through:

• our news page

• following us on Facebook, LinkedIn, X or Instagram.

Your personal information will be accessed by:

• departmental staff involved with managing our newsletter
• Swift Digital.

We will not:

• disclose your personal information to overseas recipients
• otherwise use or disclose it without your consent except where authorised or required by law.

Read more about how Swift Digital manages data on the Swift Digital website.

Sometimes we engage third party service providers (for example, consultants who conduct user research and provide us with advice). The Department of Industry, Science and Resources privacy policy allows us to disclose your personal information to these service providers when they have been contracted to carry out some of our functions.

These service providers and their employees are bound by privacy provisions when dealing with your information. We ensure that the privacy and confidentiality of your personal information is addressed in contracts with these service providers.

We may contact you directly to provide you with information or updates which may be of interest to you in the future, based on the information you have provided.

Use or disclosure will be in compliance with the Privacy Act and we will always provide a simple means by which you can request to not receive these communications.