Privacy notice
Pollywatch is an accountability site. The only personal information we collect is the email address you give us when you sign up for notifications. This page explains what happens to it.
Last updated 6 June 2026.
What we collect
Your email address, and nothing else. We do not ask for your name, and we do not buy, sell, or share email lists. Browsing the site does not require an account or any sign-up.
Why we collect it
To email you when new government spending data lands on Pollywatch or when we ship a new feature. We use your address for that purpose only. When you sign up we send a confirmation email and add you to the list only after you click the link, so we have a record of your consent. Giving us your address is optional. If you choose not to, you simply will not receive these updates, and everything on the site stays free to read without signing up.
Who processes it
Our email list and sending are handled by Buttondown, an email newsletter service. Your address is stored on their systems, which are based in the United States. By signing up you consent to your email address being stored and processed overseas for this purpose. Buttondown sets out its own handling of data in its privacy policy.
Unsubscribing and deletion
Every email we send carries a one-click unsubscribe link, and most email apps also show an unsubscribe button in the message header. Unsubscribing stops all further emails. To have your address removed from the list entirely, unsubscribe or email us at the address below and we will delete it. We keep your address only while you are subscribed. When you unsubscribe we remove it from the list, and we may keep a minimal record of the unsubscribe itself so we can prove the request was honoured.
Analytics
Separately from the email list, Pollywatch uses Google Analytics to understand how the site is used in aggregate, such as which pages are read. To do this it sets cookies in your browser and collects technical identifiers, including your device’s IP address. Under Australian law these identifiers can count as personal information. This data is sent to and held by Google LLC in the United States, which is a separate overseas disclosure from the email list above. We do not link analytics data to your email address, and we do not use it to identify you personally. You can opt out of Google Analytics on every site by installing Google’s browser add-on at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. Google handles the data it collects under its own privacy policy.
Children
Pollywatch is a general accountability site and is not directed at children under 15. We do not knowingly collect personal information from them.
Contact
Questions about your details, or a request to access or delete them, can go to privacy@pollywatch.com.au. For how we handle the public spending data itself, see the methodology page.