Privacy Policy
This document sets out Queensland Cotton’s policy on management of personal information. The policy may be updated by us from time to time.
We take steps to comply with the National Privacy Principles (“NPP’s”) of the Privacy Act. Our policy governs our collection, storage, use and disclosure of personal information. We outline our policy in each of those areas below.
Collection
We generally collect the following kinds of personal information, for the following purposes, in the course of our business.
- Grower and other customer names and contact details, so that we can contact our customers;
- Agronomical details such as classing and yield information so that we can provide a better service to our customers;
- Credit information such as credit limits, loan amounts and security details, so that we can assess and provide crop financing service to growers ;
- Contract details such as the value of the contract and payments made under the contract so that we can provide a better service to our customers, and
- Information from applicants interviewed for positions within the company so that we can assess their suitability. Where applicants are unsuccessful, this information is returned to them or destroyed within 14 days of the date of the interview.
Where possible, we collect that information from the individual concerned. At the time we collect information, we advise the individual of the relevant purpose, and obtain the individual’s consent.
Sometimes, we collect information about individuals from others, such as credit or bank references.
Whether we collect personal information from an individual or from elsewhere, and whether or not we obtain written consent, we always deal with that information in accordance with this policy.
Personal Information and Our Web Site
In addition to information entered into our web site, the site automatically collects two types of information. First, we may from time to time collect information relating to use of our web site, such as the pages that are requested and accessed and which browser software is being used. This information enables us to identify the areas of the site which are popular and tailor the site accordingly.
Second, we make use of a web browser software feature known as “cookies” which cause the user’s web browser software to store small pieces of textual information on a user’s computer. This feature allows us to make our site more useful by appearing to remember information about a user during and between visits.
Storage
We take reasonable steps to make sure that personal information is stored securely. Those steps include storing paper records in a physically secure place, and using appropriate access controls in relation to our information systems.
Secure Sites
Our web site contains personal information such as contact numbers, contract and merchandising details so that we can deliver a better service to our customers. Through this web site our grower customers can view details on cotton contracts, payments, classing, ginning and merchandise purchases. In addition our grower customers can maintain some contact information like e-mail address and mobile phone number. When personal information is sent to us, or when we send personal information to our grower customers using our web site, we use encryption technologies to prevent that information from being read or altered by another person while it is in transit.
Use
We use the information outlined above for the purposes set out above. We also analyse information from time to time, in order to improve our business and our products and services. The analysis is primarily performed on aggregated information, but may be performed on information relating to specific individuals.
Disclosure
We may disclose personal information in the following ways:
- We disclose personal information when we are legally required to do so;
- We share some types of personal information within our corporate group (that is, to related companies) as a consequence of the use of the information for the above purposes;
- We disclose personal information to others when they carry out tasks for us which are necessary to operate our business. For example, we disclose personal information to the organisation which sends our bulk mail to individuals.
