Privacy Statement

This page explains the type of information that may be collected by Perth Observatory, how such information is used and under what circumstances and to whom it may be disclosed. If you have any privacy concerns regarding your use of this web site please read the rest of this page. If you still have concerns please send them, in writing, to the Government Astronomer at the Perth Observatory contact address or by .

Personal information collected by Perth Observatory is used in accordance with its obligations under the Privacy Act 1988. Personal information is information relating to an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from the information or opinion provided.

The Internet is an insecure medium and users should be aware that there are inherent risks transmitting information across it. Information submitted unencrypted via e-mail or web forms may be at risk of being intercepted, read or modified.

For those who do not wish to use the Internet we provide alternative ways of obtaining information - by telephone or mail.

Site Visit Data

When visiting this web site, a record of your visit may be logged. The following information is provided by your browser and and may be used for statistical purposes and to help improve this site :

• the type of browser you are using,
• the date and time of your visit,
• your top level domain name (for example .com, .gov, .au, .uk etc.),
• the address of the referring site,
• your server's IP address (a number which is unique to the machine through which you are connected to the Internet: usually one of your service provider's machines), and
• the address of the pages accessed and any documents downloaded.

This information does not tell us anything about you specifically but tells us how our site is used.

No attempt will be made to identify users or their browsing activities, unless disclosure is required by law or due to a mandatory requirement of a Court, Government Agency or Regulatory Authority in the course of a legally enforced investigation.

Collection of Personal Information

We will, at your request, provide you with access to any information which we have collected about you through this website in accordance with Information Privacy Principle 6, Privacy Act 1988. To gain access to this information you should contact us, as per the above contact details. If you believe any information is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date, please contact us and we will revise the relevant information in accordance with Information Privacy Principle 7, Privacy Act 1988.

When you e-mail us:

• we will record your e-mail address,
• we will only use your e-mail address for the purpose for which you provided it,
• it will not be added to a mailing list unless you request this be done, and
• we will not disclose it without your consent, except where the Perth Observatory may be required by law.

When you use our Feedback, Observing Application forms and the like:

• we will record the personal information provided by you (for example your name, address, telephone number etc),
• we will only use this information for the purpose for which you provided it,
• only authorised Observatory staff will have access to this, and
• we will not disclose it without your consent, except where the Perth Observatory may be required by law.

Cookies

A cookie is an electronic token that is passed between browser and server to transfer small amounts of information. They are used to maintain site information as you navigate different pages on a web site or return to the web site at a later time.

We may use cookies but do not use them to collect personal information or to track your activities.

Searches

Search terms that you enter when using our search engine may be collected, but we will not link your search terms and personal details. Nor will they be associated with any other information that we collect. We use these search terms to ascertain what people are looking for at our site and to improve the services that we provide.

Links to Other Sites

This web site contains links to other sites. Perth Observatory is not responsible for the privacy practices of these web sites and has no knowledge of whether cookies or other tracking devices are used on linked sites. If you have any concerns regarding your privacy, when visiting a linked site, you should ensure you are aware of the privacy policies of those sites.

Note: This page has been adapted from one in the Australian Bureau of Meteorology website.