Privacy Policy

Newton & Henry Pty Ltd (Newton & Henry) is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information obtained through its operations as a professional services firm. Newton & Henry is bound by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act), including the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and any relevant privacy code registered under the Privacy Act. 

How we collect personal information

As much as possible, Newton & Henry only collects personal information that has been directly provided to us by our clients or prospective clients, associates of clients, our suppliers or potential suppliers, our employees or potential employees, or is otherwise available in the public domain where this information will assist us with the provision of services to our current and prospective clients. Information may have been provided verbally or in writing (including by email or through web forms).

Newton & Henry may from time to time collect personal information from alternative sources. Some examples of these alternative collection events are:

  • concerning an associate of a client or a prospective client (e.g. a spouse or a child) where it is considered unreasonable or impracticable to seek this same information directly from the associate;

  • when we collect personal information about you from third parties;

  • personal information collected from your business card;

  • when we collected personal information about you from a referee provided by you on an application made with us;

  • when we collect information from you in order to provide you with services, a quote for services or our invoices in relation to services rendered;

  • when we collect personal information about you when you register to attend or attend an event; or

  • when we collect personal information about you from publicly available sources including but not limited to, court judgements, directorship and bankruptcy searches, Australia Post, White Pages directory, and social media platforms (such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Google, Instagram, etc).

Also, our website uses cookies to identify site users and their interests and to track usage of the site. Cookies are small pieces of text stored on a computer that help us to know which browser the operator is using, where they have been on the site and any web sites to which they may link in order to use some of our features. By acceptance of our cookie, the user will be permitted access to certain pages of the site without having to log in each time they visit. A user who does not accept the cookie from the site may not be able to access certain areas of the site.

We also log IP addresses, or the location of computers on the internet to help diagnose problems with our server and to administer the site. If the user prefers not to accept a cookie, they can set their web browser to warn them before accepting any cookies. Alternatively, they can refuse all cookies by turning them off in their web browser.

If Newton & Henry collect details about you from someone else, we will whenever reasonably possible, make you aware that we have done this and why, unless special circumstances apply, including as described in this clause below. In general, we will not tell you when we collect personal information about you in the following circumstances: 

  • where information is collected from our share registry provider;

  • where information is collected from any personal referee you have listed on any application form (including any employment application) with Newton & Henry;

  • where information is collected for publically available sources including but not limited to, Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth), searches, court judgements, directorship and bankruptcy searches, social media platforms (such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, Instagram etc.); or

  • as otherwise required or authorised by law.

Unsolicited information

In the event Newton & Henry collects personal information from you, or a third party, in circumstances where we have not requested or solicited that information (known as unsolicited information), and it is determined by Newton & Henry (in its absolute discretion) that the personal information is not required, we will destroy the information or ensure that the information is de-identified.  

In the event that the unsolicited personal information collected is in relation to potential future employment with Newton & Henry, such as your CV, resume or candidacy related information, and it is determined by Newton & Henry (in its absolute discretion) that it may consider you for potential future employment, Newton & Henry may keep the personal information on its human resource records.  

The kinds of personal information we collect and hold

The specific types of personal information Newton & Henry may collect and hold includes the following:

  • name;

  • company name;

  • residency;

  • date of birth;

  • country of residence;

  • job title and employer;

  • Tax File Number;

  • Employee record information;

  • CV, resume or application related behaviour;

  • contact details such as address, email address;

  • business/mailing address;

  • title;

  • nature of business;

  • bank account and credit or debit card details;

  • advice received from the client or prospective client that may contain additional personal information, such as family relationships and other business-related connections;

  • qualifications, memberships and other accreditations;

  • financial records; and

  • online interactions with our website, publications, alerts and social media activity. 

Newton & Henry also collects certain information that is not directly and specifically provided by third parties, such as an IP address, browsing pattern on the site, click stream, and the status of cookies placed on a computer. Newton & Henry does not collect any personal information other than information reasonably necessary for, or directly relating to, the primary purpose for which Newton & Henry has been engaged or may be engaged, or its other functions and activities.

How we hold and secure your personal information

The security of your personal information is very important to us. We store your personal information in different ways, including in paper and electronic format. We take reasonable measures to ensure that your personal information is stored safely to protect it from misuse, loss, interference, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. These measures include electronic and physical security measures. 

Purposes for which we collect, hold, use and disclose your personal information

Newton & Henry collects personal information for the following purposes:

  • enquiries from clients;

  • provision of our professional services as accountants, auditors and advisors;

  • credit information;

  • marketing services;

  • human resources; and

  • other similar business activities.

Newton & Henry also collects personal information that is reasonably necessary for, or directly related to those purposes.

In order to fulfil the purposes set out above we may disclose to your personal information to third parties, for example to your financial institution, regulatory bodies such as the ATO or ASIC, or other advisors engaged by you. We will only provide this information with your consent at the time of request.

It is unlikely that we would disclose your personal information to overseas recipients. However, there may be occasions where we are required to do so in order to provide you with our services, such as the use of cloud technology. If we transfer your personal information outside Australia, we will comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act which relate to trans-border data flows.

Sensitive information

Sensitive information is a subset of personal information.  It means information or opinion about an individual’s racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, membership of a political organisation, religious beliefs or affiliations, philosophical beliefs, membership of a professional or trade association, membership of a trade union, sexual orientation or practices, criminal record, health information about an individual, genetic information, biometric information that is to be used for the purpose of automated biometric verification or biometric identification or biometric templates.

Our policy is that we attempt not to collect sensitive information about our clients or prospective clients, however that may not always be possible. If any of our clients or prospective clients elects to provide us with any sensitive personal information, we will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the sensitive information is securely protected.

In the event we propose to use such personal information other than for the reasons set out in this policy, we will first notify you or seek your consent prior to such use.

Credit information

The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) contains provisions regarding the use and disclosure of credit information, which applies in relation to the provision of both consumer credit and commercial credit.

As we provide terms of payment of accounts which are greater than 7 days, we are considered a credit provider under the Privacy Act in relation to any credit we may provide you (in relation to the payment of your account with us).

With your express consent, as required by law or court order and otherwise in accordance with Part IIIA of the Act and the Code, we may use or disclose the credit information we have collected to:

  • credit reporting bodies;

  • third parties that perform credit assessment and debt collection services on our behalf;

  • our contractors, agents and service providers; and

  • current or prospective guarantors in relation to credit we may provide to you.

  • We may use or disclose credit information we have collected about you to:

  • decide whether or not to provide credit to you;

  • assess your suitability to act as a guarantor for another credit facility;

  • collect outstanding debts and enforce guarantees; and

  • comply with our legal or regulatory obligations. 

We may also use credit information we hold about you for internal management purposes and to respond to queries or complaints about our treatment of your credit information. We may disclose your credit information to credit reporting bodies if you fail to make payments to us or if you commit a serious credit infringement.

Accuracy of personal information

Newton & Henry will take all reasonable steps to make sure that any personal information collected, used or disclosed is accurate, complete and up to date. As the accuracy of personal information largely depends on the information that you provide to us, we request that you advise us of any errors in or updates require to your personal information. If you believe that the information we hold about you is inaccurate or out of date, they may contact us and we will update the relevant information accordingly.

Access to personal information

Under the Australian Privacy Principles, you have the right to request access to any personal information that we may hold about you and to advise us if the information should be corrected. The Australian Privacy Principles set out the circumstances when we can refuse those requests. If we do refuse your request, we will provide you with a written notice that sets out the reasons (unless it would be unreasonable to provide them to you).

Subject to our right to refuse access, Newton & Henry will provide you with a report that lists any personal information that we may hold about you.

Our policy is to provide written acknowledgement of our receipt of any request for access to personal information or a request for correction of personal information within 7 days of the request being received. We will then provide a written response within 30 days of our receipt of the request.

Changes to policy and complaints

We may amend this Policy from time to time without notice to you. The revised Policy will take effect when it is uploaded on our Website. If you believe that we have breached our privacy or credit reporting obligations under the Act, you can make a complaint by emailing or writing to us.

  • If we do not resolve your complaint to your satisfaction or you are dissatisfied with the action we have taken, you can make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. For further information about how to do this, please contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner on 1300 363 992 or visit www.oaic.gov.au.