Key Terminology

Credit Information about an individual is personal information (other than sensitive information) that is:

• identification information about the individual; or

• consumer credit liability information about the individual; or

• repayment history information about the individual; or

• a statement that an information request has been made in relation to the individual by a credit provider, mortgage insurer or trade insurer; or

• the type of consumer credit or commercial credit, and the amount of credit, sought in an application:

  • • that has been made by the individual to a credit provider; and

    • in connection with which the provider has made an information request in relation to the individual; or

• default information about the individual; or

• payment information about the individual; or

• new arrangement information about the individual; or

• court proceedings information about the individual; or

• personal insolvency information about the individual; or

• publicly available information about the individual:

  • • that relates to the individual’s activities in Australia or the external Territories and the individual’s credit worthiness; and

    • that is not court proceedings information about the individual or information about the individual that is entered or recorded on the National Personal Insolvency Index; or

• the opinion of a credit provider that the individual has committed, in circumstances specified by the provider, a serious credit infringement in relation to consumer credit provided by the provider to the individual.

Employee Information includes PI about an individual who is, was or applies to be an employee relating to -

• the selection, employment, training, discipline or resignation of the individual; or

• the termination of the employment of the individual; or

• the terms and conditions of employment of the individual; or

• the employee’s personal and emergency contact details; or

• the performance or conduct of the individual in carrying out the duties or functions of employment; or

• the suitability of the individual for appointment or for employment held by the individual; or

• the hours of employment of the individual; or

• the salary or wages of the individual; or

• the membership of the individual of a professional association, trade association or trade union; or

• the recreation leave, long service leave, sick leave, personal leave, maternity leave, paternity leave or other leave of the individual; or

• information that supports employment statistical reporting and personnel planning; or

• information in relation to employees as required by law (such as superannuation, taxation or banking details). 

Health Information means personal information or opinion about -

• the physical, mental or psychological health at any time of an individual; or

• a disability at any time of an individual; or

• an individual's expressed wishes about the future provision of health services to him or her; or

• a health service provided, or to be provided, to an individual; or

• other personal information collected to provide, or in providing, a health service; or

• other personal information about an individual collected in connection with the donation, or intended donation, by the individual of his or her body parts, organs or body substances; or

• genetic information about an individual that is or may be predictive of the health at any time of the individual or any of his or her descendants.

Personal Information (‘PI’) means information or an opinion about a natural person, whether true or not, from which their identity is apparent or can reasonably be ascertained or as otherwise defined by applicable privacy law. This is whether the information is recorded in a material format or not. Personal information may also include information we may collect about a person’s individual preferences. It does not include information that is de-identified (anonymous data).

Sensitive Information means personal information or an opinion relating to personal information about an individual's -

• racial or ethnic origin; or

• political opinions; or

• membership of a political association; or

• religious beliefs or affiliations; or

• philosophical beliefs; or

• membership of a professional or trade association (except where it relates to employee information); or

• membership of a trade union (except where it relates to employee information); or

• sexual preferences or practices; or

• criminal record; and

• Health Information about an individual.