Tracking your staff
Most staff accept vehicle tracking when they know about it and understand why. Problems start when it’s a surprise. Being upfront is good practice — and our terms require it: you must give drivers written notice that the vehicle is tracked, what’s collected and how it’s used, and get any consent the law requires.
The NT Surveillance Devices Act
Section titled “The NT Surveillance Devices Act”In the Northern Territory, the Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NT), section 13, makes it an offence to install, use or maintain a tracking device to find the location of:
- a person, knowing it’s done without that person’s express or implied consent; or
- a thing (such as a vehicle), knowing it’s done without the express or implied consent of the person in lawful possession or control of it.
The maximum penalty is 250 penalty units or 2 years’ imprisonment. The Act has no special exception for employers.
What this means in practice (our reading, not the Act’s words):
- For a business-owned vehicle, the business is usually the one in lawful possession or control.
- If the tracking is really about where a person is, get that person’s consent.
- If it’s an employee’s own vehicle, you need the employee’s consent.
The NT has no separate workplace surveillance Act. NSW and the ACT do — if your staff work there, check those laws too.
The Privacy Act
Section titled “The Privacy Act”The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) may also apply:
- Small businesses with annual turnover of $3 million or less are generally exempt. There are exceptions — for example, businesses that have had turnover above $3 million, health service providers, and businesses that trade in personal information.
- The employee records exemption covers an employer’s handling of employee records directly related to the employment relationship. It doesn’t cover contractors, job applicants or volunteers.
- The Australian privacy regulator (OAIC) says location information can be personal information.
Since 10 June 2025 there is also a legal right to sue for serious invasions of privacy. It isn’t limited to businesses covered by the Privacy Act. Consent is a defence — another reason to be open with staff.
Good practice
Section titled “Good practice”- Write a tracking policy. Say which vehicles are tracked, what’s recorded (location, speed, trips, driving events), when, why, who can see it, and how long it’s kept (see Plans and contracts for how long the platform keeps history).
- Give every driver written notice and keep a signed acknowledgement. Get written consent where it’s needed.
- Put a notice in the vehicle, such as a sticker on the dash, saying it’s GPS tracked.
- Set rules for private use. If staff take vehicles home or use them on weekends, say whether that driving is tracked and how it’s used.
- Limit who can see the data. Only ask us for logins for people who need them, and tell us when someone leaves.
- Use the data for what you said. Don’t quietly start using it for something new.
- Tell new starters, and anyone who moves into a tracked vehicle.
See our privacy policy for how we handle tracking data.