Austrade takes the issue of privacy very seriously, including user interactions with its website.

Some data is collected about visitors, including:

• Standard machine identity details, as is normal and necessary when a user interacts with a website and server;
• ClickStream data on the nature of a user’s visit to the site, including server address, user’s upper domain category (eg: .com, .org, .au, .it, jp, etc), date and time of the visit, the path taken to the Austrade site (eg: through a search engine or link at another site), and pages accessed, route taken through the site, searches performed, and documents down-loaded;
• Austrade uses cookies on its website, but only to identify a repeat visitor. The cookies are not used to identify an individual, nor to track an individual's preferences or behaviour when using the site, nor to customise the site or affect what is offered to users.

When a user provides information to Austrade through the website — such as registering online for a seminar, making a purchase, or registering with the Australian Suppliers Database — Austrade:

• Does not collect any unnecessary information, nor distribute the information externally without the user's knowledge or consent, nor collect any information without the user's knowledge or consent;
• Attempts to store infomation as securely as possible and does not allow access to this information by external parties unless required by law (for example, if the infomation is subject to a warrant or subpoena).

Any information collected is used solely by authorised Austrade staff for the purposes of:

• Analysing the effectiveness of the website to improve its usefulness and service;
• Processing electronic transactions;
• Checking and registering of companies for Austrade events and/or services;
• Processing a request or feedback by a user.

Austrade staff who operate the website, or have access to any user information related to it, are subject to the Australian Privacy Act 1988.