Introduction
1. In the course of our business, there may be circumstances where we collect personal information. Our privacy policy has been developed to ensure that such information is handled appropriately.
2. We are committed to complying with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (“the Privacy Act”) in relation to all personal information we collect. This commitment is demonstrated in this policy. The Privacy Act incorporates the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). The APPs set out the way in which personal information must be treated.
3. This policy applies to any person for whom we currently hold, or may in the future collect, personal information.
4. This policy does not apply to acts and practices which relate directly to the employee records of our current and former employees.
5. In broad terms, ‘personal information’ is information or opinions relating to a particular identifiable individual. Information or opinions are not personal information where they cannot be linked to a particular individual.
Types of personal information that we collect and hold
6. We are a business and industry representative body and collect and hold different types of information to assist us to achieve our organisational objectives. Generally, the types of information that we may collect and hold include:
(a) contact information;
(b) financial information;
(c) business circumstances;
(d) employment history;
(e) date and place of birth;
(f) expertise and interests;
(g) insurance history;
(h) banking and credit card details;
(i) driver’s licence and other photographic information;
(j) information otherwise required by law; and
(k) any other personal information required to perform our services.
7. Sensitive information is a subset of personal information and includes personal information that could have serious ramifications for the individual concerned if used inappropriately.
8. The sensitive information that we collect and hold about a person may include:
(a) health information;
(b) racial or ethnic origins;
(c) political opinions and membership of political associations;
(d) religious beliefs or affiliations;
(e) philosophical beliefs;
(f) membership of professional or trade associations or unions;
(g) criminal records;
(h) genetic information;
(i) any sensitive information required to be disclosed by law; and
(j) any other sensitive information required to perform the service to the person.
9. We will not collect sensitive information without the individual’s consent to which the information relates unless permitted under the Privacy Act.
10. In limited circumstances, it may be possible for an individual to use a pseudonym or remain anonymous when dealing with us. If an individual wish to use a pseudonym or remain anonymous, they should notify us when making first enquiries. It should be noted that this may affect our ability to perform the services that we offer to you.
How we collect and hold personal information
11. Where reasonable and practicable, we will collect personal information directly from the individual to whom the personal information relates.
12. However, we may also collect personal information from numerous other sources. It is not possible to provide an exhaustive list of these sources, but they may include:
(a) professional advisors or agents;
(b) banks and financial institutions;
(c) government bodies;
(d) insurance companies;
(e) businesses about their employees, contractors, customers or suppliers;
(f) feedback surveys; and
(g) from paid search providers.
13. We hold personal information:
(a) physically, on our premises;
(b) electronically;
(c) through internal servers and websites; and
(d) on electronic storage devices, including DVD and USB.
14. We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that all personal information we hold is secure from any unauthorised access, misuse or disclosure. However, we do not guarantee that personal information cannot be accessed by an unauthorised person (e.g. a hacker) or that unauthorised disclosures will not occur.
15. Some of the methods we use to store and secure information include:
(a) using unique usernames, passwords and other protections on systems that can access personal information;
(b) restricting access to information on a “needs to know basis”; and
(c) using our document retention system (locked storage area with only authorised access) for important documents and other original documents.
16. We manage the personal information we collect by:
(a) providing team members training on privacy issues;
(b) implementing procedures such as providing privacy statements when dealing with a client’s personal information;
(c) regularly reviewing our privacy compliance, including privacy audits; and
(d) implementing security measures to keep the personal information we collect safe, including using unique usernames and passwords on systems that can access personal information and security cards to access on-site information.
The purposes for which we collect, hold, use and disclose personal information
17. We take reasonable steps to use and disclose personal information for the primary purpose for which it is collected.
18. The primary purpose for which information is collected is to:
(a) enable us to provide the services to the Cairns business industry and facilitate the memberships that we sell;
(b) to maintain contact with members;
(c) to notify and keep members and contacts informed of the events, services and service offer we provide; and
(d) to ensure we provide correct and up to date information regarding industrial relations and/or human resources services.
19. In the case of potential employees, the primary purpose the information is collected is to assess the individual’s suitability for a position with us.
20. Personal information may also be used or disclosed by us for secondary purposes which are within the individual’s reasonable expectations and related to the primary purpose of collection.
21. For example, we may use personal information for the following secondary purposes:
(a) to process payment of invoices;
(b) to add an individual’s details to our newsletters, to inform the individual of any relevant updates and to invite them to events that are being held (which can be unsubscribed at any time); and
(c) to collect data to be used for the purpose of lodging submissions (as part of its Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS)).
22. We will only disclose personal information to third parties with the relevant individual’s consent or if the disclosure is permitted by the Privacy Act.
Disclosure of personal information to overseas recipients
23. We do not disclose personal information to overseas recipients with the exception of the website analytic statistics that may be disclosed pursuant to the Website Analytics section of this policy below.
24. We currently store, process and back-up your personal information on computer servers or networks that are “in the cloud”. In the event that we are made aware that your personal information has been provided to an overseas entity, we will take all necessary steps to notify you and to ensure that the security of the information is maintained and that it is used consistent with this policy and our obligations under the Privacy Act.
Website Analytics
25. We use Cookies on our website. Cookies are small text files that our site may place on your computer when you access our website.
26. Our website uses Google Analytics, a service which transmits website traffic data to Google Servers. Google Analytics stores the statistics it obtains from the Cookies on its servers which are maintained around the world. Your information may be processed on servers located outside of Australia.
27. Our website also uses Chat2 which is a Live Chat Service that enables you to leave a message on our website by providing personal information such as your identity and contact details. Your information may be processed outside of Australia, including “in the cloud”, by third party service providers of Chat2.
28. By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google and Chat2 in the manner described in their respective Privacy Policies. Where you access other websites from our website, we encourage you to read their privacy policy as the terms of their privacy policy apply.
29. We use Cookies to authenticate logged-in users, to anonymously collect aggregate information about visitor behaviour and to facilitate a live chat service. The majority of the information obtained anonymously through the Cookies will not be personal as they will not reveal your personal identity.
30. If you refuse the use of Cookies, you can change the appropriate settings on your browser to disable or refuse the cookie, disable JavaScript or follow Google’s opt-out service. If you do disable Cookies, you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website.
Credit information
31. We do not use a person’s personal information to assess their credit eligibility. However, during the course of providing our services, we may collect, hold and use certain credit-related information about you.
32. The main kind of credit information we collect is an individual’s and businesses identification information.
33. We do not collect an individual’s credit information from credit reporting bodies, banks or other credit providers unless or we have been expressly authorised to do so. If we have been given such authorisation, we may request and be given (and subsequently hold) the following other kinds of credit information:
(a) information about any credit that has been provided;
(b) repayment history;
(c) information about overdue payments;
(d) if terms and conditions of credit arrangements are varied;
(e) if any court proceedings have been commenced in relation to the individual’s credit activities;
(f) information about any bankruptcy or debt agreements;
(g) any publicly available information about creditworthiness; and
(h) any information about whether an individual may have fraudulently or otherwise committed a serious credit infringement.
34. Other sources we may collect the credit information from include:
(a) banks and other credit providers; and
(b) an individual’s suppliers and creditors.
35. However, in most cases, a person will be aware that this information is being collected as part of providing our services.
36. We may also collect credit information to process payments.
37. We store and hold credit information in the same manner as outlined in paragraph 13 above.
38. We will not disclose an individual’s credit information to overseas entities unless expressly requested, apart from the extent that it is necessary or desirable to make such a disclosure to obtain payment of money owed to us.
39. An individual can access and correct his/her credit information, or complain about a breach of privacy in the same manner as set out in paragraphs 40 to 53 of this policy.
How to access personal information and seek correction of any personal information
40. It is important the information we hold about individuals is up-to-date. Individuals should contact us if their personal information changes.
41. Individuals may request access to the personal information we hold or ask for their personal information to be corrected.
42. A request by an individual to access or correct personal information about the individual must be made to the following contact officer:
Contact person: Chief Executive Officer
Telephone number: (07) 4031 1838
Email address:
Postal address: PO Box 2336 CAIRNS QLD 4870
43. We will grant individual access to their personal information as soon as possible, subject to the request circumstances.
44. In keeping with our commitment to protect the privacy of personal information, we will not disclose personal information to an individual without proof of identity.
45. We may deny access to personal information if:
(a) the request is impractical or unreasonable;
(b) providing access would have an unreasonable impact on the privacy of another person;
(c) providing access would pose a serious and imminent threat to the life or health of any person;
(d) providing access would compromise our professional obligations; or
(e) there are other legal grounds to deny the request.
46. We may charge a fee for reasonable costs incurred in responding to an access request. The fee (if any) will be disclosed prior to it being levied.
47. If an individual is able to establish that personal information we hold is not accurate, complete and up-to-date, we will take reasonable steps to correct it so that it is accurate, complete and up-to-date, where it is appropriate to do so.
How to complain about an alleged privacy breach
48. We are committed to observing the principles of the Notifiable Data Breaches Scheme contained in Part IIIC of the Privacy Act.
49. If a person wishes to complain about an alleged breach of the Australian Privacy Principles, they can contact us by using the contact details below. We may ask you to lodge your complaint to us in writing.
50. Any complaint will be investigated by the Chief Executive Officer and you will be notified of the outcome of the investigation into your complaint as soon as practicable after it is made.
51. Where an actual or suspected breach comes to our attention, we will manage the process in accordance with our “Data Breach Response Plan”.
52. A copy of our Data Breach Response Plan can be found on our website.
53. In the event the privacy issue cannot be resolved by us, the individual may take their complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
54. A person can complain about a breach of privacy by contacting us using the contact details below:
Contact person: Chief Executive Officer
Telephone number: (07) 4031 1838
Email address:
Postal address: PO Box 2336 CAIRNS QLD 4870
55. We may update, modify or remove this policy at any time without prior notice. Any changes to the privacy policy will be published on our website.
As the Cairns Chamber is a not for profit organisation that incurs large expenses associated with events which must be paid in advance, please be advised that the following cancellation policy applies:
- No refund of ticket price can be provided on any events if cancellation is notified within 14 days of the event.
- If cancellation is notified outside of the 14 days, then a refund will be issued less a cancellation fee of $22.00 to cover administration costs.
If you have paid for an event and they cannot attend, unless specifically stated on the event invitation that the ticket is transferable, you are able to send another person to take your place at the event.
If an event is cancelled by the Cairns Chamber after payment has been made, a full refund will be issued to you within fourteen (14) business days after the scheduled date of the event.
We thank you for your understanding.
Late bookings will incur a late fee to cover administration costs.
Booking closing dates are advised on all online booking pages for each event.
Any late bookings after bookings have closed and prior to the event incur a $20 late fee on top of the relevant member or non-member ticket price and must be paid by credit card over the phone on 07 4031 1838.
Any attendees who arrive at the event without a booking will incur a $20 late fee on top of the non-member ticket price (whether the attendee is a member or not) and must be paid at the event by cash.
Event Sponsorship Cancellation Policy
A minimum three (3) months notice must be given of an intention to cancel a Sponsorship agreement with the Cairns Chamber of Commerce for a refund/no charge to be considered.
The decision to refund will be made by Management on a case by case basis, dependent on the sponsorship agreement terms and effect on the event supported by the sponsorship.
Activity Sponsorship Cancellation Policy
A minimum three (3) months notice must be given of an intention to cancel a Sponsorship agreement with the Cairns Chamber of Commerce for a refund/no charge to be considered.
The decision to refund will be made by Management on a case by case basis, dependent on the sponsorship agreement terms and effect on the event supported by the sponsorship.
Regional Migration Program Cancellation Policy
All applications made to the Cairns Chamber of Commerce under the Regional Migration Programs must be paid for in advance before the Cairns Chamber can assess the application.
Payments are processed if the visa application is certified. Non-certified visas will have documents and payment returned.
Refunds will not be issued for Visa applications that have been certified by the Cairns Chamber and the applicant chooses to not lodge the application with the Department of Immigration.
