Centrelink inserts website into clients file : Melbourne Indymedia

This is what the Privacy Commissioner's Office have to say, regarding my
complaint about an internet media article which was posted on the website,
Perth IndyMedia, in Jan' 05, and downloaded & placed into my file by Centrelink March 05,
2 months before my site, http://www.centreflunk.com was opened!

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" I wrote to Centrelink seeking further information on its alleged collection of information
published on your website; http://www.centreflunk.com. In its response to this Office,
Centrelink have advised the following:

It has collected your website information for inclusion in your Centrelink file

Centrelink became aware of your website and the information published therein,
through your reference to it in your interactions with Centrelink staff

Centrelink has statutory obligations under section 8 of the Social Security
(Administration) Act 1999 to deliver services "under the law in a fair, courteous, prompt
and cost-efficient manner"

The collection of your information from the above-mentioned website is for the purpose
of managing its delivery of services to you.

The information is necessary for the management of this ongoing relationship with you,
as it gives a sense of what issues you have raised with Centrelink, and your past
interactions with its staff.

It is Centrelink's intention to retain this information on your Centrelink file.

I intend to decline to investigate this matter under section 41 (1)(a) of the Act on the
grounds that there does not appear to have been an interference with your privacy
in this instance. "

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So there you have it, The Privacy Commissioner says it's Ok for Centrelink to do this, so that they, Centrelink, can "manage their ongoing relationship" with me in a "in a fair, courteous, prompt and cost-efficient manner".
If that's the case, why did I recieve numerous letters from their hired Lawyers demanding I close down the site & "never publish a site like that again" with in days of the site being 1st posted in May 05?
Why did they force closure on the website, Perth Indymedia, until all links & comments relating to my site were taken off their server?

Would love to hear what you's all think of all this.

Centreflunk Forum :: Discussing Your Options