Privacy collection notice - website

The parliamentary departments are committed to protecting the privacy of individuals and handling personal information in accordance with the Information Privacy Principles in the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) (PDP Act) and other relevant legislation.

In this privacy collection notice, a reference to a parliamentary department or the parliamentary departments means, depending on the context, each or all the administrative departments of the Parliament of Victoria, being the Department of the Legislative Council, the Department of the Legislative Assembly, and the Department of Parliamentary Services. Together, the parliamentary departments provide support, infrastructure and professional services that enable the work of the Parliament of Victoria.

This privacy collection notice applies to the access and use of websites operated by the Parliament of Victoria (i.e. web addresses ending in parliament.vic.gov.au) (Websites). It explains what information is collected when individuals access and use the Websites. It may be updated from time to time.

Except as outlined in the relevant Privacy Statement, this privacy collection notice does not apply to e-petitions, submissions to Parliamentary Committees or public interest disclosures. For information about how an individual’s personal information is handled when they start or sign an e-petition, see the Privacy Statement - Petitions. For information about the submission process to Parliamentary Committees, please refer to Guidance for making a submission. For more information about how to make a public interest disclosure, see Public Interest Disclosures.

This privacy collection notice should be read in conjunction with the Privacy Policy which contains information about the parliamentary departments’ broader privacy practices and how personal information is handled generally.

The terms personal information, sensitive information and health information have the same meanings as in the Privacy Policy. In this collection notice, any reference to personal information is also a reference to health information and sensitive information unless otherwise stated.

The parliamentary departments collect three types of information when Websites visits and use:

a) website statistics using web analytics data;
b) website server logs; and
c) other information provided by users, including personal information.

Website statistics

Website statistics are collected during the use of the Websites. This data may include personal information including an individual’s internet protocol (IP) address, the date and time of the visit, data about interaction with the Websites, as well as data collected from the use of cookies and similar technologies.

The parliamentary departments use various website analytical and user survey tools to track use of the Websites. For more information about how these tools operate, the information collected and how individuals may opt-out, please see below.

Web server logs

When an attempt is made to access a page on the Websites, the web server automatically records information relating to use of the system. This information may include personal information including but not limited to IP address, the date and time of the visit, pages or documents accessed during the visit and other browser related information such as cookies and type of browser used. This information is automatically and temporarily kept in the server logs for the purpose of website maintenance and security.

Information provided by Website users

Information, including personal information, may be collected directly from users through their interactions with the Websites, including through e-petition process, online forms, online newsletter subscriptions, events and training registration and website feedback. This information may include names, postal addresses, email addresses, job titles and telephone numbers.

For further detail about how personal information is handled as part of the e-petition process, see the Privacy Statement - Petitions.

In some cases, personal information may be collected indirectly. This may occur if another person includes personal information when completing online forms or where personal information is collected through social media and external websites.

The parliamentary departments do not collect sensitive or health information without a person’s consent unless a third party provides it when completing an online form or through the e-petition process.

The Websites include links to other external websites operated by third parties. Where users access links to websites or services that are not part of the parliament.vic.gov.au domain, including individual websites operated by members of Parliament, users will be leaving the Websites, and going to a web page controlled by a third party.

This privacy collection notice does not apply to third party websites. Information collected on those third party websites are subject to the third party’s own privacy policies.  

The Websites also includes embedded videos hosted on YouTube, Vimeo or JW Player, which may result in these third parties collecting personal information. Whenever users attempt to access a page on the Websites that has embedded video, the third party’s web server receives information that it needs to deliver the video and video player to the user. This includes information about the user’s computer, including its IP address and browser information.

Website statistics

Various website analytical and user survey tools are used to track site usage across the Websites, including Google Analytics, JW Player Analytics and HotJar. The purpose for collecting usage data is to better understand the Websites’ usage and improve the quality of services provided.

Website server logs

This information is automatically and temporarily kept in the server logs for the purpose of website maintenance and security. The information collected will only be used for the purpose set out in section 6, including for the purpose of operating, maintaining and improving services or as otherwise required by law. If a user does not want this information to be collected, they should not access the Websites. Users may still access the services by contacting the parliamentary departments by phone.

Other information, including personal information

The parliamentary departments may also collect other information that users are asked to provide or that users choose to provide when users interact with the Websites. This may include personal information such as names, email addresses or other contact details. The parliamentary departments collect information to:

• deliver online services and improve user experience
• provide email news alerts, updates and news from the Parliament of Victoria
• investigate and respond to enquiries, feedback or complaints
• register users for community engagement activities and other events, tours and training,
  
  and any other purposes which users are notified of at the time of collection.

If a user provides feedback on the Websites, the parliamentary departments will collect this information and may use the information to understand the issues that led to the feedback. This is done to get the best possible understanding of user experience in order to improve the services provided.

Personal information and, (if collected) health information, may be used by and disclosed to employees or third party contractors of the parliamentary departments who are required to use it in the course of performing their duties or providing services to the parliamentary departments, including communications, community engagement and IT service providers.  

The parliamentary departments do not share personal information about individual users of the Websites with any organisation or person outside of the parliamentary departments, except:

• where the information was collected for a service that is delivered by a third party on behalf of the parliamentary departments. For example, if a user signs up for the newsletter, the parliamentary departments share the email address provided with Mailchimp and Campaign Monitor. Another example is if a user signs up to events or training delivered by a third party, the parliamentary departments share the user’s details with whoever is delivering the event or training;
• for the purpose of an investigation into suspected unlawful activity involving the Websites (for example, hacking or online fraud); or
• where required to by law.

Other than outlined above, a user’s email address will only be used for the purpose for which the user provided it, and it will not be shared with third parties or added to a mailing list without the user’s consent.

As outlined above, various website analytical and user survey tools are used to track usage of the Websites and to improve user experience, including Google Analytics, JW Player Analytics and HotJar. These service providers may use cookies, web beacons and similar technologies to collect or receive information to evaluate usage of the Websites, compile reports on website activity and provide other services relating to website activity and internet usage.

These service providers may also transfer website usage data they collect to third parties where required to do so by law, or where the third parties process the information on their behalf.

Disabling cookies or opting out of tracking

Cookies used by the Websites are enabled by default because of their integration into delivering website functionality.

Users can choose to refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings in their browser or opt out of being tracked by website analytical tools by enabling tracking prevention in their browser. Users will need to customise each web browser to turn off cookie tracking. Further information about cookies and tracking is available from the Australian eSafety Commissioner’s website: www.esafety.gov.au.

If a user opts out of using cookies and tracking information, the user will still have access to all the information and resources on the Websites with some limited impact to functionality.

Users may request access to, or correction of, documents that contain their personal information which are in the possession of a parliamentary department. To access or correct personal information, please contact the Privacy Officer at PrivacyOfficer@parliament.vic.gov.au.

Users wishing to raise a concern or complaint about how their personal information has been handled can contact the Privacy Officer at PrivacyOfficer@parliament.vic.gov.au.

Users may provide information to the parliamentary departments anonymously where it is lawful and practicable to do.

Online forms set out the information needed from users. In some instances, the forms will have mandatory fields, and users will not be able to submit the form without providing all the relevant information. However, in most instances users will be able to proceed without filling in the entire form. In those circumstances, it may not be possible for the parliamentary departments to provide information, respond to feedback or a complaint, provide services or support, or perform functions or activities.

Contact the Privacy Collection Notice Holder

Privacy Officer: PrivacyOfficer@parliament.vic.gov.au

This collection notice was last updated on 23 January 2026.