Question On Notice No. 536 asked in the Legislative Council on 17 February 2022 by Hon Wilson Tucker
Question Directed to the: Leader of the House representing the Premier
Parliament: 41 Session: 1
Question
I refer to the ServiceWA App terms of use and privacy policy state that "the WA Government can use [your information] for COVID-19 purposes and limited other purposes", and I ask:
(a) what is included in "limited other purposes";
(b) which Department drafted the ServiceWA privacy statement and who approved its publication; and
(c) what is the data retention policy for ServiceWA data, in particular:
(i) how long will ServiceWA data be retained for; and
(ii) is there any statutory requirement for ServiceWA data to be retained?
Answered on 17 March 2022
(a) As contained in the ServiceWA App privacy policy, "limited other purposes" includes purposes such as managing and improving the ServiceWA App, improving the user experience, and disclosures and uses that are required or authorised by law.
The Protection of Information (Entry Registration Information Relating to COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases) Act 2021 (WA) applies to the SafeWA data within the ServiceWA App.
(b) The drafting of the ServiceWA App privacy statement involved the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, the Department of Health and the State Solicitor's Office. The ServiceWA App privacy policy was approved by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
(c) (i) The ServiceWA data will be retained in accordance with WA legislation.
(ii) Yes. The State Records Act 2000 (WA) will apply to some of the ServiceWA app data. That Act requires the relevant data to be retained in accordance with the applicable agency approved record-keeping plans. In addition, the Protection of Information (Entry Registration Information Relating to COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases) Act 2021 (WA) requires the temporary retention of information collected using the SafeWA function within the ServiceWA App.