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Privacy Act requests

The Privacy Act 2020 gives you the right to access the personal information we hold about you. You can also ask us to correct any errors contained in the information we have about you.

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How to make a request

To protect your privacy and the privacy of others we'll have to verify that you are who you say you are before we can give you access to view, add information, or correct errors in the information we hold.

You can ask for someone else's information if you have been given the authority to act on their behalf.

You can:

  • email us, or
  • post your request to us.

Contact us

What will happen with your request

Requests to access information

We'll:

  • acknowledge your request — usually within 2 working days of receiving it, and
  • respond no later than 20 working days after receiving your request.

If we're not able to supply all the information you requested, we'll explain why. 

Requests to change information

We'll acknowledge your request usually within 2 working days of receiving it. Requests can be for changes to factual data or opinion-based information.

If we're holding the incorrect information, we'll:

  • amend it on your file
  • record the decision in our system
  • send the corrected information to any third party who may have received the incorrect information, and
  • contact you to let you know what we have done.

Sometimes we'll not be able to make a change to the information we hold on you. This will often be because it relates to opinion-based information, such as a medical assessment.
If we're unable to make the requested change, we'll:

  • contact you to explain why we can't make the change
  • ask you if you wish to provide a written statement, which we'll add to your file, to show that you requested a change to your information but that we have not made the change
  • send a new copy of the information, with your statement attached, to any third party who has recently received the original information, and
  • contact you to let you know what we have done.
If you're not happy with our response

If you have not received a response by the due date or aren't satisfied with our response you can complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.

Learn more about complaining to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner on their website(external link)