Use of electoral enrolment details
The Department of Human Services (DHS) aims to ensure that public housing properties and financial assistance, both being limited public resources in great demand, are efficiently and effectively provided to those most in need. In order to do this, the Department is carrying out a process in two Melbourne metropolitan areas to confirm who is living in public housing properties.
The process is being carried out for all public tenancies managed by the Ascot Vale and Fitzroy housing offices.
To assist with this work, the Department has obtained from the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) the names of all the enrolled voters for each of the public housing properties in the pilot area.
This information was obtained by making a formal request to the Victoria Electoral Commissioner outlining the reasons for requesting the information.
As stipulated by the requirements of section 34 of the Electoral Act 2002, before releasing electoral information to an organisation, the VEC must consult with the Privacy Commissioner to consider whether the public interest in providing the information outweighs the public interest in protecting the privacy of the information.
This information will not be provided to any other organisation. Where there is a discrepancy between the information from the VEC and DHS records, the Department will contact the tenant to clarify the discrepancy. DHS will not use the information from the VEC for any other purpose.
For further information on this process, please contact Paul Sharry on (03) 9096 9994.
