Privacy Act for Hotels

In 1988, the Commonwealth Government enacted the Privacy Act 1988, which provided the legislative and legal framework for the collection and use of personal information in Australia. In Queensland the State Government has chosen not to enact its own privacy laws, but has put in place an administrative framework to ensure that the privacy act applies in Queensland. 

The Privacy Act 1988 adopts a set of 11 National Privacy Principles (NPPs), of which 10 NPPs apply to businesses including hotels. These NPPs provide guidance as to what constitutes personal information, and how personal information should be treated, accessed, handled, stored and disposed.

Under the provisions of the Act, businesses and organisations including hotels, which collect information of a personal nature are required to develop and maintain their own Privacy Policy, which meets the requirement of the Act and the NPPs.

Hoteliers will need to ensure they develop their own privacy policy for their hotel as soon as possible. If you are unsure how to develop this, contact Mulcahy & Co Hotel Advisors and speak to one of our hotel specialists.

Whenever a business or organisation collects information of a personal nature, the Privacy Act requires it to:

• Collect only necessary information;
• Provide information about why personal information is being collected and how it is handled
• Only use or disclose the personal information for the purpose of the collection, unless an exception applies
• Only retain the information for as long as necessary, consistent with the purpose of collection
• Store the information securely, and provide for it to be accessed by the individual if requested.

For more information about this contact Mulcahy & Co Hotel Advisors on 1300 204 781 or your can visit www.oaic.gov.au.