Privacy policy

SMG Electrical Contractors protects your information with care and responsibility.

In accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles

Effective Date: 1 June 2025 | Version 1.0

1. Introduction

SMG Electrical Contractors ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of individuals whose personal information we collect, hold, use, and disclose in the course of operating our electrical contracting business.

This Privacy Policy explains how we manage personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the 13 Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

This policy applies to all personal information we collect from clients, prospective clients, employees, contractors, suppliers, and members of the public who interact with our business.

By engaging with SMG Electrical Contractors — whether by contacting us, requesting a quote, using our services, or providing us with your information — you agree to the collection and use of your personal information as described in this policy.

2. The Privacy Act and Australian Privacy Principles

The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) is the principal piece of Australian legislation governing the handling of personal information. It includes 13 Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) that set out how organisations must collect, use, store, and disclose personal information.

The APPs cover:

APP 1 — Open and transparent management of personal information
APP 2 — Anonymity and pseudonymity
APP 3 — Collection of solicited personal information
APP 4 — Dealing with unsolicited personal information
APP 5 — Notification of the collection of personal information
APP 6 — Use or disclosure of personal information
APP 7 — Direct marketing
APP 8 — Cross-border disclosure of personal information
APP 9 — Adoption, use or disclosure of government related identifiers
APP 10 — Quality of personal information
APP 11 — Security of personal information
APP 12 — Access to personal information
APP 13 — Correction of personal information

For more information, visit the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.

3. What is Personal Information?

"Personal information" means information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable, whether true or not, and whether recorded in material form or not.

Personal information we may collect includes:

Full name
Residential and postal addresses
Email addresses
Phone numbers (mobile and landline)
Date of birth
Payment and financial information (e.g. bank details, credit card information)
ABN or ACN (for business clients and subcontractors)
Property and job site information
Emergency contact details
Employment information (for staff and subcontractors)
Electrical licence and insurance details
Photographs taken at job sites where relevant to scope of works
Communications with us (emails, texts, call records)

We may also collect sensitive information in limited circumstances — for example, health and safety information relevant to site work. Sensitive information is subject to a higher level of protection under the Privacy Act.

4. How We Collect Personal Information

4.1 Direct Collection

We collect most personal information directly from you when you:

Contact us to enquire about our services
Request or accept a quote or proposal
Enter into a service agreement or contract with us
Provide your details as a supplier, subcontractor, or business partner
Apply for employment with us
Make a payment to us
Sign in to a job site or complete a safety induction

4.2 Indirect Collection

In some cases, we may collect information from third parties, including:

Referrals from clients or other trades
Real estate agents or property managers acting on behalf of owners or tenants
Staffing agencies or employers providing employee details
Publicly available sources such as ASIC, business directories, or LinkedIn
Insurance brokers or certifying authorities

4.3 Website and Online Collection

When you contact us via our website or an online form, we may collect personal information you voluntarily provide. Our website may also use cookies and analytics tools to collect non-personally identifiable browsing data. See Section 11 for more detail.

4.4 Unsolicited Information

If we receive personal information we did not request and determine we could not have collected it under APP 3, we will destroy or de-identify it as soon as practicable, provided it is lawful and reasonable to do so.

5. Why We Collect Personal Information

We collect personal information for the following purposes:

To respond to enquiries and prepare quotes for electrical services
To enter into and manage contracts for the supply of electrical works
To schedule, coordinate, and carry out work at residential, commercial, and industrial sites
To invoice clients and process payments
To manage subcontractor and supplier relationships
To comply with legal obligations under Australian electrical, building, and workplace safety legislation
To conduct pre-employment screening and manage employment relationships
To process insurance claims, certifications, and compliance documentation
To manage warranty claims and after-service support
To send service updates or promotional communications where permitted
To improve our services, systems, and business operations

We will not collect personal information unless it is reasonably necessary for one or more of our business functions or activities, or where required or authorised by law.

6. Use and Disclosure of Personal Information

6.1 Use

We will only use your personal information for the purpose for which it was collected, for a related secondary purpose you would reasonably expect, or where you have provided consent.

6.2 Disclosure to Third Parties

We may disclose your personal information to:

Subcontractors and trades engaged to assist with your job
Suppliers of materials or equipment required for your project
Accounting, bookkeeping, and payroll service providers
IT service providers and software platforms used in our operations
Legal advisers, insurance brokers, or claims handlers
Government bodies, licensing authorities, or regulatory agencies where required by law
Certifiers, building surveyors, or councils in connection with compliance or approvals
Debt collection agencies where payment remains outstanding

We will not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing or commercial purposes.

6.3 Disclosure Required by Law

We may be required to disclose personal information under a legal obligation, court order, or lawful government request. We will disclose only the minimum required and will notify you where permitted.

7. Direct Marketing

We may contact you with information about our services where you have consented or where we are otherwise permitted to do so under the Privacy Act or the Spam Act 2003 (Cth).

You may opt out at any time by:

Clicking 'unsubscribe' in any email we send
Contacting us directly using the details in Section 14

We will process opt-out requests promptly and at no cost to you. We do not disclose personal information to third parties for their own marketing purposes.

8. Cross-Border Disclosure

We do not routinely transfer personal information overseas. However, some cloud-based platforms we use may store or process data on servers located outside Australia.

Where personal information is transferred overseas, we take reasonable steps to ensure the recipient handles it consistently with the APPs, or we obtain your consent to the transfer.

9. Storage and Security of Personal Information

9.1 Security Measures

We implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification, and disclosure. Our practices include:

Storing physical documents in locked cabinets when not in use
Restricting access to personal information to authorised personnel only
Using password-protected systems and devices
Using reputable cloud-based platforms with appropriate security certifications
Implementing access controls and permission levels on business software
Periodically reviewing our data security practices

9.2 Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as needed for the purpose it was collected, or as required by law:

Client and job records are retained for a minimum of 7 years in line with Australian tax obligations
Employment records are retained in accordance with the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)
Electrical compliance and certification records are retained as required under relevant state licensing legislation

When information is no longer required, we take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify it securely.

9.3 Notifiable Data Breaches

We are subject to the Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme under Part IIIC of the Privacy Act. If we experience a data breach likely to result in serious harm, we will notify the OAIC and affected individuals as soon as practicable.

10. Quality of Personal Information

We take reasonable steps to ensure personal information we collect, use, and disclose is accurate, up to date, and complete. We rely on you to provide us with current and correct information.

If you believe information we hold about you is inaccurate, outdated, or incomplete, contact us using the details in Section 14 and we will take reasonable steps to correct it.

11. Website and Cookies

Our website may collect non-personally identifiable information automatically through cookies and similar technologies, including your IP address, browser type, pages visited, and time on site.

We may use:

Essential cookies — required for the site to function
Analytics cookies — to understand how visitors use our site (e.g. Google Analytics)
Marketing cookies — to deliver relevant content or advertising where applicable

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect website functionality.

Our website may link to third-party sites. We are not responsible for their privacy practices.

12. Access and Correction of Personal Information

12.1 Your Right to Access

Under APP 12, you have the right to request access to personal information we hold about you. Submit your request in writing using the details in Section 14.

We will respond within 30 days and may require identity verification. Access is generally provided at no charge, though a reasonable fee may apply for complex requests.

We may decline access where it would pose a serious threat to health or safety, unreasonably impact another individual's privacy, be unlawful, or where the information relates to anticipated legal proceedings. If we decline, we will provide written reasons and advise available complaint options.

12.2 Your Right to Correction

Under APP 13, you have the right to request correction of personal information we hold that you believe is inaccurate, outdated, incomplete, irrelevant, or misleading.

Contact us using the details in Section 14. Where we have disclosed incorrect information to a third party, we will notify that party of the correction where practicable. If we decline to correct, we will provide reasons and advise your right to complain.

13. Complaints

13.1 Internal Complaints

If you believe we have mishandled your personal information, contact us in writing using the details in Section 14. Please include:

Your name and contact details
A description of the issue
Any supporting documentation

We will acknowledge your complaint within 5 business days and aim to resolve it within 30 days.

13.2 Complaint to the OAIC

If you are unsatisfied with our response, or have not received one within 30 days, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner:

Website: www.oaic.gov.au
Phone: 1300 363 992
Post: GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001
Online: www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-complaints

14. Contact Us

For any questions, requests, or concerns relating to this policy or the handling of your personal information, contact our Privacy Officer:

SMG Electrical Contractors

‍APhone: 0409 076 064

Email: admin@smgelectricalcontractors.com.au

15. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. When material changes are made, the effective date will be updated and, where appropriate, you will be notified directly.

Your continued engagement with SMG Electrical Contractors after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

16. Governing Law

This policy is governed by the laws of Australia. Relevant legislation includes:

Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)
Spam Act 2003 (Cth)
Do Not Call Register Act 2006 (Cth)
Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)
Work Health and Safety legislation (federal and state)
State-based electrical licensing and contractor legislation
Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act (applicable state version)

SMG Electrical Contractors | Privacy Policy | Version 1.0 | Effective 1 June 2025

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