Rural Press Privacy Policy

The Privacy Policies and Procedures implemented by Rural Press Limited (‘Rural Press’) extend to and cover all operations and functions of the organisation. All directors, management, employees, contractors, sub-contractors, vendors, service providers, customers, agents or any other third parties that have access to and/or utilise personal information collected and/or held by Rural Press will seek to abide by these Privacy Policies and Procedures. The objectives of these Privacy Policies and Procedures are intended to establish and maintain a privacy foundation and framework for Rural Press. (Privacy Policies are defined as the broad statements describing required privacy objectives and incorporate the 'National Privacy Principles'. Privacy Procedures are defined as the measures intended to ensure that the Privacy Policies or objectives are met.)

All personal information collected, held or shared by Rural Press is done so in accordance with its Privacy Policies and Procedures. Rural Press retain the right to take reasonable steps to ensure that its Privacy Policies and Procedures are properly adhered to. For every operation or function of Rural Press where personal information is collected, the profit centre manager is appointed to be responsible for ensuring compliance with these Privacy Policies and Procedures.

It is the responsibility of management to inform employees and other relevant parties that Privacy Policies and Procedures are established, maintained and enforced. Management will periodically advise Rural Press employees and other relevant parties of any changes or any new Privacy Policies and Procedures in a timely manner. It is the responsibility of all employees and other relevant parties to make sure that they understand and adhere to all Privacy Policies and Procedures implemented by Rural Press and that they maintain up-to-date knowledge of changes or any new Privacy Policies and Procedures. Ignorance of the existence of any Privacy Policies or Procedures will not be an acceptable excuse for non-compliance.

All new employees will be provided with timely and appropriate access to Rural Press Privacy Policies and Procedures. All employees, when appropriate, will be provided with the opportunity to attend appropriate and periodic Privacy awareness training to understand the Privacy related issues that could adversely affect Rural Press position if not properly adhered to.

Any Rural Press employee or relevant third party that identifies, knows about or suspects a Privacy breach must immediately report the matter to senior management. Employees or other relevant parties that contravene or do not comply with Rural Press Privacy Policies and Procedures may be subject to disciplinary action.

Rural Press will seek to introduce an incidents/complaints handling process to manage privacy risks and issues. The incidents/complaints handling process will:

*	Identify (and address) any ongoing compliance problems;
*	Increase consumer confidence in Rural Press privacy procedures; and
*	Help build and preserve Rural Press reputation and business.

Rural Press will seek to ensure that all contractual arrangements with third parties adequately address privacy issues.

All Rural Press data and personal information will be classified and secured according to its level of sensitivity.

Rural Press will seek to conduct periodic privacy audits in order to ascertain:

*	What sort of personal/sensitive information is collected and held;
*	How that information is collected;
*	What the reasons are for collection of that information;
*	Where and how that information is stored;
*	How that information is secured;
*	Who has access to that information;
*	Whether that information is shared with anyone;
*	Whether the intended use of collection is communicated; and
*	Whether that information is current and necessary.

The statements and/or comments that are either required to be or are made about privacy or privacy related issues will be in accordance with Rural Press Privacy Policies and Procedures.

Collection of personal information by Rural Press will seek to be fair, lawful and not intrusive. A person will be told our organisation's name, the purpose of collection, that the person can get access to their personal information and what happens if the person does not give the information.

Rural Press should only use or disclose information for the purpose for which it was collected unless the person has consented, or the secondary purpose is related to the primary purpose and a person would reasonably expect such use or disclosure, or the use is for direct marketing in specified circumstances, or in circumstances related to public interest such as law enforcement and public or individual health and safety.

Rural Press will seek to take reasonable steps to make sure that the personal information it collects, uses or discloses is accurate, complete and up-to date.

Rural Press will take reasonable steps to protect the personal information it holds from misuse and loss and from unauthorised access modification or disclosure.

Rural Press will seek to have a policy document outlining its information handling practices and make this available to anyone who requests a copy in writing.

Generally speaking, on written request, Rural Press seeks to give an individual access to personal information it holds about that individual in accordance with the relevant Privacy Act legislation.

Generally speaking, Rural Press will not adopt, use or disclose an identifier that has been assigned by a Commonwealth government agency.

Rural Press will seek to give people the option to interact anonymously whenever it is lawful and practicable to do.

Rural Press will seek to only transfer personal information to a recipient in a foreign country in circumstances where the information will have appropriate protection.

Rural Press will seek not to collect sensitive information unless the individual has consented, it is required by law - or in other special specified circumstances, for example, information relating to health services provision and individual or public health or safety.