Google does retain information on search queries in some form. If you go and check the Google Zeitgeist (Weekly Version & the Annual Version) they have statistics on most searched terms, time graphs showing, for example the spike in search queries after the California Quake, and lots of other interesting information.

For the week ending February 2, the top search terms in the US were:

1. janet jackson
2. superbowl halftime
3. mtv
4. justin timberlake
5. tom brady
6. groundhog day
7. cbs
8. oscar nominations
9. kazuhito tadano
10. john kerry

While I understand where you are going in regards to NSW, the bill was just passed "with the support of the Greens and Independents" in the ACT according to The Australian.