Privacy at the ABS

The ABS collects personal information for analysis and production of statistics, and to help manage and operate our business. Your information makes it possible for us to produce meaningful statistics that can tell the real story of Australia, its economy and its people. Your cooperation in our surveys is vital to ensure that people like you are properly represented in this story.

We only collect the information we need to do our business. We regularly review our processes to make sure the information we collect is protected in the best possible ways.

We have two privacy policies:

• ABS Privacy Policy for Statistical Information – how we handle your personal information for producing statistics.
• ABS Privacy Policy for Managing and Operating our Business – how we handle your personal information for use in our business operations.

We also have privacy statements that guide how we will handle personal information for specific projects:

• 2021 Census privacy statement
• 2016 Census privacy statement
• PLIDA privacy statement
• ABS recruitment privacy statement
• Website privacy statement

The ABS is committed to open transparent use of personal information. The APP5 Collection notices outline the use of personal information.

We conduct Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) to better understand the impact of our business activities on your privacy. This includes when we change how your personal information will be handled. PIAs help the ABS design processes and manage change to keep your information safe.

The Privacy Impact Assessment Register contains a list of our statistical PIAs.

The ABS uses secure HTTPS connections for all of its websites. HTTPS is used to secure and protect personal or identifiable information which may be entered by customers on our contact forms and survey account forms. Customers can enjoy the wealth of data and information provided by the ABS, secure in the knowledge that any personal information is protected.

Our privacy policies outline how we respond to privacy queries and complaints, and explain how to access and correct your personal information.

Email: privacy@abs.gov.au
Phone: National Information Referral Service on 1300 135 070
Post: Privacy Officer
Policy and Legislation Section
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Locked Bag 10
Belconnen ACT 2617

Please contact us for a hard copy of this policy.