Terra Australis Legal Pty Ltd ("we", "us", "the firm") is bound by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles. This policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we handle it, and how you can access or correct it.
Information we collect
In the course of providing legal services we may collect your name, contact details, date of birth, identification documents, financial information, employment details, family circumstances, health information, and information about the matter on which you seek advice. Some of this is sensitive information within the meaning of the Privacy Act — particularly in criminal, family and domestic violence matters — and we collect it only where it is reasonably necessary for the legal work you have asked us to do.
We may also collect personal information about third parties (for example, an opposing party, a witness or a family member) where that information is relevant to your matter.
How we collect it
Usually directly from you — by telephone, email, in conference, or through documents you provide. We may also collect information from courts and tribunals, government agencies, other law firms, barristers, experts, accountants and, with your authority, from third parties such as employers or medical practitioners.
Why we collect it
Disclosure
We may disclose your personal information to barristers, experts, mediators, process servers, courts and tribunals, opposing parties and their lawyers, government agencies, and our professional advisers and insurers — in each case only to the extent necessary for your matter or as required by law. We do not sell personal information, and we do not disclose it for marketing purposes.
Some of our information technology providers may store data on servers located outside Australia. Where that occurs, we take reasonable steps to ensure the provider handles personal information consistently with the Australian Privacy Principles.
Legal professional privilege and confidentiality
Separately from privacy law, we owe you duties of confidentiality, and communications between us for the purpose of giving or receiving legal advice are generally protected by legal professional privilege. Those duties are broader than this policy and continue after your matter has ended.
Security and retention
We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure, including access controls, secure storage and staff confidentiality obligations. We retain client files in accordance with our professional obligations, generally for at least seven years after a matter concludes, and destroy or de-identify information securely once it is no longer required.
Access, correction and complaints
You may request access to the personal information we hold about you, and ask us to correct it if it is inaccurate, out of date or incomplete. Some material may be withheld where an exception under the Privacy Act applies. Write to us at PO Box 386, Kenmore QLD 4069 or email admin@terraaustralislegal.com.au.
If you believe we have breached the Australian Privacy Principles, contact us first — we will acknowledge your complaint and respond within a reasonable period. If you are not satisfied, you may complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
Website
Our website does not require you to provide personal information in order to browse it. If you email us via a link on this site, your message and email address are handled in accordance with this policy. Please do not send confidential material before we have confirmed that we are able to act for you.
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Tell us what has happened and we will tell you plainly where you stand, what it is likely to cost, and what the next step is.