Privacy

We collect, use, store and disclose personal information to help us perform our functions and manage our staff. We publish a privacy policy which sets out how we comply with our obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act) and provides information on how individuals may access and correct personal information held about them.

Our privacy policy

This is the privacy policy as at 1 July 2026.

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National EPA privacy policy (PDF 558 KB)

National EPA privacy policy (DOCX 220 KB)

If you need help accessing these files, visit web accessibility.

Summary of privacy policy

This is a summary of the privacy policy as at 1 July 2026.

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National EPA privacy policy summary (PDF 232 KB)

National EPA privacy policy summary (DOCX 102 KB)

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About this policy

The purpose of this privacy policy is to:

  • clearly communicate the personal information handling practices of the National Environmental Protection Agency (agency)
  • enhance the transparency of the agency’s operations, and
  • give individuals a better and more complete understanding of the sort of personal information the agency holds, and the way we handle that information.

If you would like to request the privacy policy be made available in an alternate format or language, such as for the vision impaired, or for those from non-English speaking backgrounds, please also contact the agency. Reasonable steps will be taken to provide alternate access.

This privacy policy is reviewed and updated annually.

Website analytics

Our website uses a range of analytics services which may send website traffic data to servers both inside and outside of Australia. We use products from these 4 analytics software vendors on our website:

  • Google Analytics – a widely used web analytics service.
  • Hotjar – an online tool to collect anonymous user behaviour used to improve website user experience.
  • Clarity – an online tool to collect anonymous user behaviour used to improve website user experience.
  • Acquia – a web optimisation tool to help us monitor and meet quality standards on the website.

We collect data about how you interact with the website, including:

  • device IP address (collected and stored in an anonymized format)
  • search terms and pages visited
  • date and time when pages were accessed
  • downloads and time spent on page
  • mouse/cursor movements on page
  • in-page elements engaged with
  • distance scrolled on page
  • referring domain
  • device type, operating system and browser information
  • device screen size
  • geographic location (city).

We use reports provided by analytics providers to help us understand website traffic and website usage.

These services do not identify you personally or associate your IP address with any other data held by the agency for any other purposes. For information on how these vendors handle your personal information, review their privacy policies:

By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you for the purposes set out above. You can opt-out of having your site activity available to Google Analytics.

Tracking tags and pixels

We use tracking tags and pixels to aid in customised, targeted follow-up advertising.

The agency may display interest-based advertisements to you when you are using Meta and/or Google. The tags and pixels allow us to personalise our advertisements based on your interests, demographics, location, and any previous interactions with us.

This website uses these tags and pixels to allow us to follow your actions once you have been redirected to the website via clicking on one of our advertisements. This helps us in record their effectiveness for reporting and market research purposes.

The data collected through the pixels and tags and provided to us is aggregated and remains anonymous, meaning that we cannot see the personal information of individual users. However, the collected data may also be saved and processed by Meta and/or Microsoft and/or Google and used in accordance with their data use policies.

The agency may also share information about your use of this website and your interactions with our advertisements with our trusted social media, advertising and web analytics partners, including Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity.

These tags also allow these platforms and their partners to show you advertisements on and outside the platform. A cookie will be saved onto your computer for these purposes.

Please visit the platform’s Ad Preferences if you wish to revoke your permission.

Privacy Impact Assessment Register

This register includes our Privacy Impact Assessments (PIA) in accordance with the Privacy (Australian Government Agencies — Governance) APP Code 2017.

The agency was established on 1 July 2026. For related Privacy Impact Assessments completed when we were part of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, please visit their website.

Contact us

Contact our Privacy Officer if you have questions about privacy.

Email: privacy@nationalepa.gov.au

Mail:
Privacy Officer
National Environmental Protection Agency
GPO Box 3090
Canberra
ACT 2601

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

© National Environmental Protection Agency