Insurance Council of Australia Privacy Statement

What is the Insurance Council of Australia?

Established in 1975, the Insurance Council of Australia is an industry association representing more than 130 general insurance companies, reinsurers and other insurance organisations. The Insurance Council evolved from the Council of Fire Accident and Marine Underwriters of the Commonwealth of Australia, formed in the 1860's.

Member companies account for more than 90 per cent of the total premium income written in Australia. They cover all forms of insurance, ranging from personal injury, commercial and industrial assets and liability protection, marine and aviation, and personal lines, which are primarily household and motor insurance.

The Insurance Council promotes the interests of its members on major issues to government, the media and the general community.

What are the Insurance Council's objectives?

The Insurance Council's objectives are to:

·         Represent its members' interests in both domestic and international issues;

·         Represent the general insurance sector to government and the community;

·         Anticipate and assist the industry to meet the needs of consumers and the community generally;

·         Improve the industry's image;

·         Promote community awareness of the role and benefits of insurance;

·         Encourage improved service standards across the insurance sector and promote appropriate self-regulation;

·         Promote private sector provision of insurance services;

·         Provide an appropriate range of services to members; and

·         Effectively and efficiently manage Insurance Council resources.

Is ICA committed to the National Privacy Principles (NPP's)?

The Privacy Act 1988 establishes 10 National Privacy Principles (NPP's) which set out the standards for the handling of personal information. The NPP's cover:

·         The collection of personal information;

·         Use and disclosure of personal information;

·         Data quality;

·         Data security;

·         Openness;

·         Access and correction;

·         Identifiers;

·         Anonymity;

·         Trans-border data flows; and

·         Collection of sensitive information.

The Insurance Council is committed to full compliance with the NPP's in all aspects of its operation.

What type of personal information does the Insurance Council hold and collect?

The personal information held by the Insurance Council is generally limited to three types:

·         The personal information of Insurance Council Officers and Directors. This is limited to the minimum information required by law;

·         The personal information of its employees; and

·         The personal information of other individuals who have contact with the Insurance Council from time to time

This information is normally limited to the minimum information required to establish and maintain routine communication with individuals in the course of the Insurance Council's activities. The individuals involved in this activity could include, but may not be limited to:

Members of Insurance Council Standing Committees

These are usually individual representatives of Insurance Council member companies. Members of Standing Committees are appointed by the Board of the Insurance Council;

·         Members of Working Parties

·         These are working groups (usually no more than 10 people) drawn from representatives of Insurance Council member companies, brought together to assist the Insurance Council in addressing contemporary industry issues;

·         Other individual industry members who may assist the Insurance Council, from time to time, in a personal or consultative capacity; and

·         Members of the industry or the wider community who register to attend Insurance Council Conferences and Seminars functions.

The type of information is usually limited to the minimum information required to establish and maintain contact. This would be limited routinely to business telephone and fax numbers, email addresses and usual business addresses. In the case of some individuals, it may extend to private telephone and fax numbers, email and postal addresses, dietary requirements and partners' names as supplied for particular functions.

From time to time, individual members of the public may telephone or write to the Insurance Council for advice or information about the general insurance industry; or about an issue of topical interest relating to insurance. In these circumstances, the Insurance Council will request sufficient information to respond to the individual if the enquiry cannot be satisfied immediately. This information may include a telephone or fax number, an email or postal address.

What does the Insurance Council do with the personal information it collects?

The purpose for which the Insurance Council holds personal information is limited almost totally to establishing and maintaining contact with individuals in the normal course of its activities. It rarely, if ever, extends beyond the need to collect and retain minimum contact information details.

In the case of Standing Committees and Working Parties, this is for the purpose of distributing agendas and notes of meetings, discussion papers, draft submissions or technical questionnaires.

In the case of other industry individuals, this is generally for the purpose of arranging meetings, exchanging technical working papers and paying fees for services rendered.

In the case of registrants for, or participants in, Insurance Council conferences and seminars, this is for the purpose of distributing registration material, confirming registration, receiving speakers' papers and other presentations, conference papers and notices of other Insurance Council produced and/or supported events.

In the case of members of the public, this is for the purpose of responding to enquiries by telephone and providing written information by fax, email or post.

How can an individual complain to the Insurance Council about possible breaches of privacy?

If an individual believes that his or her privacy has been breached by any action of the Insurance Council, he or she can complain to the Insurance Council. Any complaint about a possible breach of privacy can be made personally, by telephone, fax, email or post.

The complaint can be directed to:

The Company Secretary

Insurance Council of Australia Ltd

Level 3, 56 Pitt Street

SYDNEY NSW 2000

Telephone: (02) 9253 5100

Fax: (02) 9253 5111

Email: bfrancis@insurancecouncil.com.au

The Insurance Council will respond to any complaint within 15 days of receipt of the complaint, whether it is received personally, by telephone, fax, email or post.

If an individual believes his or her complaint has not been dealt with satisfactorily by the Insurance Council, he or she can take the complaint to the Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner whose determinations are enforceable in the Federal Courts.

How can individuals contact the Insurance Council?

For any further information about this Privacy Statement, or about the Insurance Council and privacy generally, individuals may contact the Company Secretary as shown above.

How will the Insurance Council handle requests for access to personal information?

Individuals who wish to request access to the personal information held by the Insurance Council about them can do so in a number of ways:

·         Members of Standing Committees and Working Parties can make the request directly to the Insurance Council representative on the Standing Committee or Working Party. All Insurance Council Standing Committees and Working Parties have at least one Insurance Council representative member. If an individual does not know the identity of the Insurance Council representative on the Standing Committee or Working Party, he or she may contact the Company Secretary as shown above;

·         Registrants for, or participants in, Insurance Council conferences and seminars can make the request to the Conferences and Seminars division of the Insurance Council; and

·         All other individuals can make the request to the Company Secretary as shown above.

How does the Insurance Council keep the personal information it holds secure?

All personal information held by the Insurance Council is kept under secure conditions.

Where information is kept electronically, access can be obtained only by authorised ICA staff using personal accredited passwords.

The keeping of personal information in hard copy within the Insurance Council is not encouraged. Information is held on hard copy only for a reasonable time when it is necessary.

All Insurance Council premises are protected by security access.

The Insurance Council will not pass on any personal information about an individual to any party without the express permission of that individual.

The Insurance Council values and respects the security of personal information it holds about individuals and takes the greatest care in its use, retention, storage and disposal.