Terms of use

This site is hosted for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry by Converlens. 

You can participate in consultations and have your say on this website by completing surveys or uploading submissions.

If offered by the department, these terms also apply to submissions provided to the department outside of Have Your Say in response to the consultation process.

Using this website 

By using this website, you must:

  • represent your own views and not impersonate or falsely represent any other person

  • not post material that infringes the intellectual property rights of others

  • not be abusive, harass or threaten others, and do not make defamatory or libellous comments

  • not use insulting, provocative or hateful language, and do not use obscene or offensive language

  • not make unproven or unsupported accusations against individuals or organisations

  • not conduct any illegal activity or solicit the performance of any illegal activity

  • not post content containing or installing any viruses, worms, malware or Trojan horses

  • not post spam

  • not make comments that are irrelevant to the topic being discussed

  • not promote commercial interests unless requested by the department

  • not provide a submission in a format that has not been offered by the department.

We reserve the right to enforce our terms of use and may not consider or publish information (either in whole or in part) that breaches these terms of use.

Published submissions

The views contained in published submissions on this website are the author’s responsibility and should not be taken to:

  • represent the views of the Australian Government

  • indicate a commitment to a particular course of action.

Publication does not in any way constitute an endorsement of the author’s views.

Use of artificial intelligence in submissions

You may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in preparing your submission. The use of these tools can present risks to the quality and accuracy of information produced. If you are making a submission, you are responsible for the accuracy of the information contained in your submission, including where AI tools have been used. You should review your response before submitting it and ensure it accurately reflects your views. Your use of AI will not, by itself, determine how a submission is considered by us.

How responses are considered

We will endeavour to consider all responses received before the end of the consultation period. We reserve the right to consider, weigh and use the responses as we see fit at our sole discretion and may choose to identify and aggregate identical or substantially similar responses, including responses that are or appear to be submitted as part of coordinated campaigns. We reserve the right to afford less weight or to disregard a response where we consider appropriate. Any response received after the end of the consultation period may not be considered.

Analysis of responses

Submissions may be analysed using generative artificial intelligence (AI) for the purposes of identifying themes and delivering additional targeted consultation. All AI-generated outputs will be critically reviewed by a human to ensure accuracy and relevance, in line with the department’s AI transparency statement and Australia’s AI Ethics Principles.

Registration information 

If you register for the site, you will receive a user password and account name. You agree that: 

  • you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and account, and  

  • you are responsible for all activities that occur under your password or account. 

Disclaimer 

We do not warrant that the information on this website, including published submissions, is accurate, reliable, current or complete. We disclaim all liability, to the extent permitted by law, for any liability, loss, damage or cost arising from the use of, or reliance on, any information made available on this website. 

Read our full disclaimer on the department’s website.  

Copyright 

You retain ownership of any comments or submissions you provide to us on this website. If your comments or submissions contain material owned by a third party, that third party will retain ownership over the material.

By providing your comments or submissions on this website, you grant the Commonwealth a permanent, irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide, non-exclusive licence to use, adapt, modify and communicate the intellectual property in the submission for the purpose of undertaking research, developing and publishing policies, programs, and reports; but in all cases exclude the commercialisation (being for profit) of the intellectual property.

If your submission contains material owned by a third party, you warrant that you have obtained all necessary consents before providing the material to us and Converlens to use, reproduce or publish for the purpose of undertaking research, developing and publishing policies, programs, and reports. 

Freedom of Information requests 

A request may be made under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) for access to your submission, including if it is marked confidential. Such requests will be determined in accordance with the provisions of the FOI Act.  

You can find more information on Freedom of Information on the department's website. 

Privacy  

Personal information you disclose to the department in your submission is subject to our Privacy Policy. For more information, please see the website Privacy Notice, and our full Privacy Policy.