Privacy Policy

Purpose and scope

Recon Oz Pty Ltd ACN 601 487 585 (“Recon Oz”, “We”, “Us” or “Our”) is committed to complying with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act), including the Australian Privacy Principles.  

This Privacy Policy is intended to provide a clear and concise summary of Recon Oz’s current approach to the handling of personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles.  

We will provide a free copy of this policy to anyone who asks for it.

By using this website or subscribing to any of our newsletters, you agree to Recon Oz dealing with your personal information in accordance with this policy.

What types of personal information does Recon Oz collect?

Personal information means information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable, whether the information or opinion is true or not, and whether the information or opinion is recorded in a material form or not.

Examples of personal information collected by Recon Oz or its agents include individuals’ names, occupation and contact details (e.g. telephone number, email address and address), the publications and topics of interest to individuals, and for job applicants who register on our RECONjobs website at www.reconjobs.com.au, resumes, employment history and experience, qualifications, date of birth and referee details.

We also collect names, profiles and photographs of the individuals profiled on our website at www.therealestateconversation.com.au, and the names, profiles and photographs of the authors and other contributors to our publications.

Recon Oz may collect the following personal information from applicants for jobs with Recon Oz, and our contractors:  name, employment history and experience, qualifications, date of birth, contact details, referee details, emergency contact details.

Contact details may also be collected from individuals representing industry related contacts.

Personal information can include sensitive information.  Sensitive information is defined in the Privacy Act as information or an opinion about a person’s race, ethnic origin, political opinions, membership of political associations and trade associations, religious or philosophical beliefs, sexual orientation or practices, or criminal record, health information, genetic information about an individual that is not otherwise health information, biometric information that is used for the purpose of automated biometric verification or biometric identification and biometric templates.

Recon Oz does not usually collect sensitive information.  Recon Oz will only ever collect sensitive information in circumstances where you have consented to the collection, or we are required or authorised by law to collect the sensitive information.  If sensitive information is ever collected by Recon Oz, it will only ever be used for the purpose it was collected.  We never use or disclose sensitive information for direct marketing purposes.

How does Recon Oz collect and hold personal information?

If you have received this notice, we have collected your personal information in one of the following ways:

• from our Associates;
• from our affiliates;
• via online subscription facilities, or via email sent to register for newsletters, products or services offered on or via a website operated by or in conjunction with us;
• our employees, related bodies corporate, partnerships, joint venture entities, contractors or external service providers for the operation of our network or our business, fulfilling requests by you, and otherwise provide products and services to you, including without limitation, web hosting providers, IT systems administrators, mailing houses, newsagents, couriers, payment processors, photographic analysers, data entry service providers, electronic network administrators, debt collectors, and professional advisers such as accountants, solicitors, business advisors and consultants;
• our existing or potential agents and/or business partners;
• specific third parties authorised by you to receive information held by us;
• individuals who deal with us in person (e.g. face to face or telephone);
• individuals who use our online subscription, listings or contact facilities, register for accounts online, or who email us about newsletters, advertising, products or services offered on or via our websites
• from our agents, service providers and contractors; or
• from property owners, property developers, real estate agents, brokers, valuers and other industry related contacts. 

Use of personal information

The purposes for which we collect, hold, use and disclose your personal information may include:

• sending you our newsletter and other publications, communications and advertising material (including third party publications, communications and advertising material); 
• providing our overseas affiliates with your email address so that they can send you local versions of our publications; 
• providing you with information about real estate or the real estate industry in Australasia including property developers, property owners, real estate agents, brokers, valuers and other industry related businesses;
• advertising or marketing products and services to you (including third party products and services);
• responding to enquiries or providing any relevant product or service you may request;
• compiling and analysing statistics;
• to customise our services or advertising;
• debt collection;
• assessment of employment applications;
• administration, business planning and other internal management functions and operations related to the provision or management of our services, including research and development; and
• complying with our legal obligations and audit.

We may also disclose personal information to our Associates, our overseas affiliates including, or sponsors and other third parties, in order to facilitate direct marketing by those parties. 

We never use or disclose sensitive personal information for direct marketing purposes. 

Disclosure of personal information

In the course of its business, we may disclose your personal information to:

• our Associates;
• users of our websites;
• property developers, property owners, real estate agents, brokers, valuers and other real estate industry contacts;
• our employees, related bodies corporate, partnerships, joint venture entities, contractors or external service providers for the operation of our network or our business, fulfilling requests by you, and otherwise provide products and services to you, including without limitation, web hosting providers, IT systems administrators, mailing houses, newsagents, couriers, payment processors, photographic analysers, data entry service providers, electronic network administrators, debt collectors, and professional advisers such as accountants, solicitors, business advisors and consultants;
• our existing or potential agents and/or business partners;
• our sponsors, or promoters of any competition that we conduct or promote via our services;
• third parties where you have requested information, goods or services from them (e.g. if you use the online loan search, enquiry forms or application tools that are accessible from our website/s);
• external organisations that are our agents, suppliers, service providers or contractors;
• advertisers for marketing material;
• third party syndicated listing sites;
• potential purchasers of businesses or real estate and their professional advisers;
• lenders and mortgage brokers;
• insurers and insurance brokers;
• our shareholders;
• our sponsors;
• our professional advisers such as accountants, lawyers and auditors; and
• if required or authorised by law, regulatory bodies, government agencies and authorities, law enforcement bodies and courts.

Disclosure to overseas recipients

We may disclose your personal information to our affiliates and other recipients located in but not limited to New Zealand, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Mongolia, Thailand, other Asian countries and the United States of America.

By accessing any of our websites or services you consent to disclosure of your personal information anywhere in the world on the basis that we will not be accountable under the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) or equivalent overseas laws, and you will not be able to seek redress under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and may not be able to seek redress under overseas law if the recipient handles your information in a way that breaches the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).  Overseas recipients may not be subject to any privacy obligations that are similar to the Australian Privacy Principles, and may be subject to a foreign law that could compel the disclosure of personal information to a third party such as an overseas authority.

Direct marketing

Recon Oz may use personal information to send direct marketing material in relation to Recon Oz’s products or services, Williams Media products or services, or the products or services of third parties.

Recon Oz may also disclose personal information to Williams Media, Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA), State and Territory Real Estate Institutes (REIQ, REIV, REIWA, REISA, REIT, REINT, REIACT) and other third parties, in order to facilitate direct marketing by those parties. 

We never use or disclose sensitive information for direct marketing purposes. 

If you do not wish to receive marketing information from Recon Oz, you may at any time opt-out of receipt of further marketing communications by contacting our Privacy Officer (contact details below).  If direct marketing is by email, you may also use the unsubscribe function.

You should also contact our Privacy Officer if you do not wish us to disclose your personal information to third parties for direct marketing purposes.

Government related identifiers

Recon Oz does not use any government related identifiers, such as driver’s licence numbers, as its own internal identifier of any individual.  Recon Oz will not use or disclose any government related identifiers other than in accordance with the Privacy Act, or as otherwise required or authorised by law.

Data integrity and security

Recon Oz endeavours to ensure that all personal information it holds is accurate, complete and up-to-date.  To assist us with this, individuals should contact us if any of their personal information changes, or if they believe that the personal information we have is not accurate or complete.

Recon Oz takes reasonable steps to protect the personal information that it holds from misuse, interference or loss, or from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.  

If Recon Oz no longer requires personal information that it holds (including when we are no longer required by law to keep records relating to you), it will take such steps as are reasonable in the circumstances to destroy the information or ensure that the information is de-identified.  

Disclosure overseas

Recon Oz may disclose your personal information to overseas recipients located in New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, India, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Mongolia, Thailand, South Korea and other Asian countries, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

By accessing any of our websites or services you consent to disclosure of your personal information anywhere in the world on the basis that Recon Oz will not be accountable under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) or equivalent overseas laws, and you will not be able to seek redress under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and may not be able to seek redress under overseas law if the overseas recipient handles your information in a way that breaches the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).  Overseas recipients may not be subject to any privacy obligations that are similar to the Australian Privacy Principles, and may be subject to a foreign law that could compel the disclosure of personal information to a third party such as an overseas authority.

Access and correction

• Individuals can ask Recon Oz for access to their personal information held by Recon Oz by sending a written request to our Privacy Officer at the address below. 
• Recon Oz does not impose a charge for making a request for access, however we may charge for reasonable administrative costs incurred in providing access.
• You can ask Recon Oz to correct or update your personal information.  Recon Oz does not impose any charge with respect to requests for correction or updates.
• Before correcting or providing access to personal information in response to a request, Recon Oz will require your identity to be confirmed.  
• Requests for access or correction may be refused upon the grounds contained in the Privacy Act.  If we refuse to provide access, or to correct personal information, Recon Oz will provide you with reasons for the refusal.

Complaints

Privacy related complaints should be directed to Recon Oz’s Privacy Officer in writing at the email or postal address shown below No charge will be imposed for the making of a complaint, or for dealing with the complaint.

Once a complaint has been lodged, our Privacy Officer will acknowledge its receipt to you as soon as possible.

We will endeavour to respond to your complaint as soon as possible.

We will do our best to ensure that our investigation is completed, and a decision on your complaint is communicated to you, within 30 days of our receipt of the written complaint.  We will inform you if we need more time.  

If we are not able to resolve your complaint to your satisfaction you may also contact the Australian Information Commissioner.

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner

GPO Box 5218

SYDNEY  NSW  2001

Telephone: 1300 363 992

Website:  www.oaic.gov.au 

Employee records

Employee records are exempt from the operation of the Australian Privacy Principles.

Recon Oz Privacy Officer contact details

Recon Oz’s Privacy Officer’s contact details are:

Address: Privacy Officer

Unit 4, 37 Langridge Street

Collingwood VIC 3006

AUSTRALIA

Telephone: +61 (03) 9486 0288 or 1300 377 037 (within Australia)

Email: [email protected]

Changes to this policy

This Privacy Policy sets out how Recon Oz manages personal information.  It may be varied from time to time. 

This Privacy Policy was last updated on 13 November 2015.