As a general rule, the New South Wales Parliament does not collect or record data that directly identifies users. However, the New South Wales Parliament website makes some use of data that indirectly identifies users.

Web statistics data collection
When you access pages on this site, our system will automatically record information from your computer that identifies the following types of data

• The IP (Internet Protocol) address of the machine which has accessed it;
• The address of your server;
• The date and time of your visit to the site;
• The pages accessed and documents downloaded;
• The previous site visited; and
• The type of browser and operating system you have used.

Online interaction with the Parliament
The New South Wales Parliament website allows users to fill in various on-line forms, for example to seek information through its online enquiry facility, to request school tour bookings, to lodge submissions to Committee inquiries and to subscribe to e-bulletins. This information may be used by the Parliament to improve its information management systems and processes, further customise the website for user needs, and for related research and development purposes. The information will only be used for the purposes for which it was provided. We will not add your email address or name to any mailing list for marketing or other unrelated purposes.

Cookies
Cookies are small pieces of text data that may be placed on your computer by web servers to be retrieved at a later time. Cookies do not personally identify you, but do identify your browser. Cookies can be either 'persistent' or 'session' based.

Persistent cookies are stored on your computer, contain an expiration date, and may be used to improve your browsing experience upon return to the issuing website.

The New South Wales Parliament website uses persistent cookies, for example to store your advanced search preferences and apply those as default settings to your subsequent advanced searches, and also for use with Google Analytics (see below).

You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser. However, please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of the Parliament’s website.

Google Analytics
The New South Wales Parliament website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google. Information generated about your use of the website could be transferred to and stored on Google's servers. Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for the Parliament and providing other services relating to website activity and internet use.

By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above.

Links
The New South Wales Parliament website contains links to other sites. The Parliament is not responsible for the privacy practice or the content of such websites

Hansard
Hansard is the official transcript of debate in Parliament. It documents all speeches, motions, questions and responses made by Members of Parliament in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council chambers. Hansard records are available online through the New South Wales Parliament's browsing function.

It is important to note that most search engines can retrieve names and information about individuals recorded in Hansard without the need to go through the website's browsing function. For example, a Google search of 'John Citizen' and 'Hansard' may yield transcript results of Hansard that include references to 'John Citizen'.

The New South Wales Parliament is not able to edit the official transcripts of proceedings of Parliament recorded in Hansard.

However, the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly have procedures in place that may enable citizens to have a reply recorded in Hansard to matters that may have been raised in Parliament about them.

Committee inquiries
Submissions
It is common for a committee that is conducting an inquiry to request submissions from the public. Submissions are generally in written form and sent to the Committee Secretariat, and form part of the official proceedings of the committee.

Most submissions made to committee inquiries will form part of the public record. Requests for confidentiality will be considered. However committees reserve the right to publish all submissions.

For the purpose of publication, a committee may also resolve to remove information from a submission if it reveals confidential or sensitive information about the submission author or another person.

Most search engines can retrieve names and information about individuals recorded in Committee submissions.

Evidence
It is common for a committee that is conducting an inquiry to hold public hearings and to take evidence from witnesses. This evidence is recorded by Hansard.

Hearings are generally held in public, and the transcript of evidence given by witnesses is publicly available. However, witnesses may request that a committee take their evidence in private. This is called taking evidence in camera. Committees generally agree to such a request. However, it is important to note that committees may decide later to publish in camera evidence where it is deemed appropriate, although this decision would not be taken without consulting the witness.

Transcripts of committee hearings are available on individual committee web pages, unless the evidence of a particular witness is in camera.

Once again, it is also important to note that most search engines can retrieve names and information about individuals recorded in committee evidence.