Commonwealth Government COVID-19 Response Inquiry consultation privacy notice

This privacy notice applied to submissions to the COVID-19 Response Inquiry Taskforce between 6 November 2023 and 15 December 2023 and late submissions that were received after the closing date.

The COVID-19 Response Inquiry Taskforce is collecting your views and personal information to inform the findings of the COVID-19 Response Inquiry. The goal of the inquiry is to identify lessons learned to improve Australia’s preparedness for future pandemics. The COVID-19 Response Inquiry Panel is supported by the COVID-19 Response Inquiry Taskforce within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

The purpose of this notice is to ask you how you would like the taskforce to use your submission and evidence and any personal information that you provided through the COVID-19 Response Inquiry consultation.

Providing a submission and evidence is voluntary. If you don’t agree to the use of your personal information, it might mean that we will not be able to share your views in the findings of the COVID-19 Response Inquiry.

The department reserves the right to refuse to publish submissions and evidence, or parts of submissions and evidence, that contain offensive language, potentially defamatory material or copyright infringing material, or material with the personal or business information of third parties if the department does not have their consent to publish the information.

The department has contracted Converlens to manage stakeholder information, meeting notes and the analytics of that information. Converlens is an Adelaide-based Australian company that has been engaged by the department to implement a Customer Relationship Management system to securely handle submissions to the COVID-19 Response Inquiry. 

Converlens has substantial experience in providing software solutions for highly sensitive and confidential information. The Converlens system has been specifically built for government and has been utilised by other government agencies.   

Converlens and all its employees are subject to strict confidentiality and privacy requirements in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988; you may view the Converlens Privacy Policy on their website. 

The privacy and security of your personal information is important to us, and is protected by law. We will not use or disclose your personal information for any other purpose without your consent or as authorised or required by law.

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s privacy policy explains how the department handles your personal information, how you can request access to or correct your personal information, and includes the contact details of the department’s Privacy Officer. 

If you have a privacy enquiry or complaint please contact the Privacy Officer at privacy@pmc.gov.au so we can help you.

For any other enquiries relating to the COVID-19 Response Inquiry please contact COVID-19Inquiry@pmc.gov.au.