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2016
THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Australian Postal Corporation (Unsolicited Political Communications) Bill 2016
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
and
STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS
Circulated by authority of
Andrew Wilkie MP
Australian Postal Corporation (Unsolicited Political Communications) Bill 2016
OUTLINE
This bill seeks to prevent Australia Post from delivering unaddressed political material to a
premises if there is a sign displayed at that premises specifically requesting that unaddressed or
political material not be delivered. This bill is in response to community concern about unsolicited
political communication and to close the loophole that currently sees political material classified
as a "community notice" under "Schedule 3 - Unaddressed Mail Service Terms and Conditions" of
the Australia Post Terms and Conditions.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The bill will have no financial impact.
NOTES ON CLAUSES
Clause 1: Short Title
1. This clause is a formal provision and specifies the short title of the Bill as the Australian
Postal Corporation (Unsolicited Political Communications) Bill 2016.
Clause 2: Commencement
2. This clause provides for the commencement of Sections 1 to 3 of the Act the day the Act
receives Royal Assent, and the commencement of Schedule 1 of the Act on 1 July 2017.
Clause 3: Schedules
3. This clause establishes that, as the intent of the Bill is to be realised through amendments
to another Act, the Schedules of this Bill will amend that Act accordingly.
Schedule 1
Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989
Item 1: At the end of section 32A
1. Item 1 inserts a subsection 4 into section 32A of the Act that specifies that Australia Post
must not, while supplying an unaddressed mail service, deliver a piece of political material
to a premises where a sticker or sign contains the words "addressed mail only", "no
unaddressed mail" or "no political material".
2. Subclauses (b)(i) to (b)(iv) define "political material" as being material from or about a
registered political party, a candidate in a House of Representatives or a Senate election, a
Member of the House of Representatives, or a Senator for a State or Territory.
Item 2: Constitutional matters
3. Item 2 specifies that the amendments made by item 1 do not apply to the extent that they
would limit the constitutional doctrine of freedom of political communications or amount
to an acquisition of property from a person other than on just terms.
STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS
Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011
Australian Postal Corporation (Unsolicited Political Communications) Bill 2016
This bill is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the
international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act
2011.
Overview of the bill
This bill seeks to prevent Australia Post from delivering unaddressed political material to a
premises if there is a sign displayed at that premises specifically requesting that unaddressed or
political material not be delivered.
Human rights implications
This bill strengthens the rights enshrined in article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights (ICCPR) to allow a person to live without arbitrary or unlawful interference to their
privacy, family, home or correspondence.
To the extent that this bill engages with the freedom to impart information in writing or in print
outlined in article 19 of the ICCPR, any restrictions on this are considered fair and reasonable in
order to protect the rights of others.
Conclusion
This bill is compatible with human rights because it does not diminish human rights.
Andrew Wilkie MP