Inner Mess Council (IMC) — Privacy Policy

Last updated: 29 June 2026

Inner Mess Council (IMC) is an independent, community‑run website focused on public‑interest reporting, civic transparency, and community advocacy within the Inner West. We are not affiliated with Inner West Council, NSW Government, or any commercial organisation.

We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting any personal information you provide while using this website.

1. Information We Collect

IMC collects only the minimum amount of information necessary to operate this website, publish community content, and manage petitions.

1.1 Website Browsing

When you visit IMC, we may automatically receive:

• Basic technical information (browser type, device type)
• Anonymous analytics (page views, traffic patterns)

We do not use invasive tracking, behavioural profiling, advertising cookies, or third‑party marketing tools.

1.2 Petition Signatures

When you sign a petition hosted on IMC, we may collect:

• Your name
• Your residential address (street, suburb, postcode)
• Your email address
• Your digital signature declaration
• Your optional public comment

This information is collected through the Petitioner system for the sole purpose of validating signatures and submitting petitions to the relevant public authority.

1.3 Contact Forms

If you contact IMC directly, we may collect:

• Your name
• Your email address
• Any information you voluntarily include in your message

2. How We Use Your Information

2.1 Petition Signatures

Petition information is used only to:

• Verify that signatures are genuine
• Confirm residency where required
• Submit petitions to Inner West Council or other authorities
• Demonstrate community support for civic issues

We do not use petition data for marketing, advertising, or commercial purposes.

2.2 Website Operations

Technical data helps us:

• Maintain website security
• Improve site performance
• Understand general usage patterns

This data is anonymous and non‑identifying.

2.3 Communication

If you contact IMC, we may use your email address to respond to your enquiry.

We do not send newsletters, promotional emails, or marketing messages unless you explicitly request them.

3. What Information Is Public

Only the following may be displayed publicly:

• Your optional comment on a petition
• Your name only if you choose not to sign anonymously

Your address, email, and signature declarations are never displayed publicly.

4. How Your Information Is Stored

Petition data and contact submissions are stored securely on IMC’s hosting infrastructure and within the Petitioner system.

We use:

• Secure server environments
• Restricted administrator access
• Encrypted connections (HTTPS)

We do not store data in external marketing platforms or third‑party advertising systems.

5. How Your Information Is Shared

IMC does not sell, trade, or share your personal information with commercial third parties.

We may share petition signatures only with:

• Inner West Council
• Relevant public authorities
• Elected representatives
• Government departments directly related to the petition topic

This sharing occurs only when submitting a petition you have signed.

We do not share your information with:

• Advertisers
• Data brokers
• Political parties
• Commercial organisations

6. Data Retention

Petition data is retained only for as long as necessary to:

• Validate signatures
• Submit petitions
• Maintain a public record of civic activity

You may request removal of your data at any time.

Contact details for privacy requests are provided below.

7. Your Rights

You may request:

• A copy of your personal information
• Correction of inaccurate information
• Removal of your signature
• Deletion of your personal data

We will respond to all privacy requests in a timely manner.

8. Cookies and Tracking

IMC uses only minimal, functional cookies required for:

• Website performance
• Security
• Petition form operation

We do not use:

• Advertising cookies
• Behavioural tracking
• Cross‑site profiling
• Third‑party marketing pixels

9. Third‑Party Services

IMC may use trusted third‑party services for:

• Website hosting
• Security
• Form processing (Petitioner plugin)
• Anonymous analytics

These services do not have permission to use your data for their own purposes.

10. Children’s Privacy

IMC does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. Petitions should be signed only by adults or individuals legally permitted to sign civic documents.

11. Changes to This Policy

IMC may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect:

• New petitions
• Changes in website functionality
• Updates to privacy practices
• Legal requirements

The “Last updated” date will always reflect the most recent revision.

12. Contact Us

For privacy enquiries, data removal requests, or corrections, please contact IMC via the website’s contact form.