FROM THE BLOG

Why we need to verify your identity
As part of our legal and regulatory obligations, we are required to verify your identity when acting for you in relation to your conveyancing matter.

To verify your identity, we may use the Australian Government’s Document Verification Service (DVS). The DVS is an electronic service that allows information contained in identity documents to be checked against information held by the relevant official record holder.

For example, depending on the identity document you provide, information may be checked against records held by the relevant government authority or other official record holder.

How we will use the DVS
We will use the DVS solely for the purpose of verifying your identity.

The identity information you provide to us may be submitted electronically to the DVS as part of an Information Match Request. The DVS will compare the information submitted by us with relevant official record information and provide an Information Match Result indicating whether the information matches the relevant official record data, or whether an error has occurred.

The DVS and the processing of your information may involve the use of third-party systems and services.

We will not use the identity information obtained for the purpose of DVS verification for unrelated purposes such as profiling you, advertising or promoting goods or services, offering goods or services, enabling another person to do so, or market research.

Our legal obligations
We have obligations under applicable laws and regulations concerning the verification of your identity and the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information.

Our use of the DVS is subject to the Identity Verification Services Act 2023 (Cth), applicable privacy laws and the requirements governing our participation in the DVS.

In using the DVS, we are required to obtain your express consent before submitting your identification information to the DVS for verification.

We are also required to keep appropriate records of the disclosures, confirmations and consents relating to our use of the DVS.

Your rights
Your personal information is subject to applicable privacy laws, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles where applicable.

These laws provide you with rights in relation to your personal information, including rights concerning how your personal information is collected, used and disclosed and, subject to applicable exceptions, rights to request access to and correction of personal information we hold about you.

Our collection and handling of your personal information is also subject to our Privacy Policy.

If you do not consent
You are not required to provide your express consent to the use of the DVS.

However, if you decline to provide consent, we may be unable to complete the electronic identity verification process required for us to act for you or to complete your conveyancing matter.

Depending on the circumstances, we may need to obtain and verify your identity by another method, where an alternative method is available and acceptable to us and applicable legal requirements permit us to do so.

Declining consent may therefore delay or prevent us from being able to provide our services to you.

Complaints
If you have a complaint or concern about our collection, use or disclosure of your identification information for the purposes of identity verification, you should contact us in the first instance using the contact details provided by our office.

You may also obtain information about privacy complaints and your privacy rights from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

Information about the Document Verification Service
The DVS is administered by the Commonwealth of Australia, represented by the Attorney-General’s Department, as the Framework Administrator.

Information about the operation and management of the DVS, including information concerning the DVS Hub and the applicable privacy arrangements, is available from the Australian Government’s Document Verification Service resources and the Attorney-General’s Department.

Confirmation and express consent
By proceeding, you:

confirm that you are authorised to provide the identity document and the information contained in it to us;
acknowledge that we have informed you that the information you provide may be subject to an electronic Information Match Request against relevant official record holder information through the DVS;
acknowledge that the Information Match Request, Information Match Result and other information relating to the DVS may involve the use of third-party systems and services;
acknowledge that we have explained how we will use the DVS, our relevant legal obligations, your rights, the consequences of declining consent, and where you can obtain further information or make a complaint; and
expressly consent to us collecting, using and disclosing your identification information for the purpose of making an Information Match Request through the DVS for the purpose of verifying your identity.