This bill became law on Jul 9th, 2024.
Budget, tax & economy
Australia PostThe government-owned postal operator that handles letters, parcels and the mail-screening powers being updated here. can now share mail information with police, border, tax, consumer and other government bodies when it will help them use their legal powers or do their jobs.
Gaps and ambiguity in Australia PostThe government-owned postal operator that handles letters, parcels and the mail-screening powers being updated here.’s mail screening laws, exposed by rising parcel volumes, automation and better electronic data, left border and other agencies without clear powers to act. The bill updates those rules by letting Australia PostThe government-owned postal operator that handles letters, parcels and the mail-screening powers being updated here. share information with approved agencies, clarifying who can lawfully open mail, and setting powers to deal with dangerous items.
Australia PostThe government-owned postal operator that handles letters, parcels and the mail-screening powers being updated here. already operated under rules that tightly limited disclosure about mail and generally prohibited opening articles, but the growth of e-commerce parcels, more automated processing and richer electronic data exposed gaps and ambiguity in how high-risk mail could be screened, shared with regulators and handled when dangerous items were suspected. The government responded in March 2024 with a bill to modernise those powers, Parliament passed it in July 2024, Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. created the ActThe main law that sets Australia Post's powers and duties, and which this bill amends. on 9 July 2024, and the substantive Schedule 1 changes then commenced on 9 January 2025 under the ActThe main law that sets Australia Post's powers and duties, and which this bill amends.’s fallback commencement rule.
No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far, and no party represented in the debate argued that its core mail-screening or information-sharing changes would cause clear harm. The debate material instead shows support from government and coalition speakers, with criticism limited at most to the need for safeguards that supporters said were already included.
Michelle Rowland MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 09 July 2024
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
104 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
Australia PostThe government-owned postal operator that handles letters, parcels and the mail-screening powers being updated here. can now share mail information with police, border, tax, consumer and other government bodies when it will help them use their legal powers or do their jobs.
The Communications Department secretary can add more Commonwealth, state and territory agencies to receive Australia PostThe government-owned postal operator that handles letters, parcels and the mail-screening powers being updated here. information under this sharing power.
Government agencies that lawfully receive Australia PostThe government-owned postal operator that handles letters, parcels and the mail-screening powers being updated here. information can pass it on to other approved agencies or customs officersAn officer who can inspect mail and goods at the border when the law allows it. when it will help with their official work.
Opening or inspecting someone’s mail without legal authority remains a crime carrying up to 2 years jail, but police and other authorised people can act when a law allows it.
Australia PostThe government-owned postal operator that handles letters, parcels and the mail-screening powers being updated here. staff and approved specialists can open, make safe, destroy or hand dangerous mail to police when they reasonably suspect it contains explosive, dangerous or harmful items.
(1) The person may disclose the information or document to any of the following persons (each of whom is a recipient) if the person is satisfied that the information or document will enable or assist the recipient to exercise any of the powers, or perform any of the functions or duties, of the recipient:Australian Postal Corporation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 final Act text
(2) The Secretary of the Department may, by legislative instrument, determine an agency or authority of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory for the purposes of paragraph (1)(r).Australian Postal Corporation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 final Act text
(3) If the person (the recipient) acquired or received the information or document as a result of a disclosure under subsection 90JD(1) or (6), or another person (also the recipient) acquired or received the information or document as a result of a disclosure under this subsection, the recipient may disclose the information or document to:Australian Postal Corporation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 final Act text
(1) A person commits an offence if the person:Australian Postal Corporation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 final Act text
(4) If paragraph (1)(c) applies and the article is found to contain one or more prohibited things (whether or not the article also contains other things), then one or more of the following may occur:Australian Postal Corporation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 final Act text
Context
Australia PostThe government-owned postal operator that handles letters, parcels and the mail-screening powers being updated here. already operated under rules that tightly limited disclosure about mail and generally prohibited opening articles, but the growth of e-commerce parcels, more automated processing and richer electronic data exposed gaps and ambiguity in how high-risk mail could be screened, shared with regulators and handled when dangerous items were suspected. The government responded in March 2024 with a bill to modernise those powers, Parliament passed it in July 2024, Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. created the ActThe main law that sets Australia Post's powers and duties, and which this bill amends. on 9 July 2024, and the substantive Schedule 1 changes then commenced on 9 January 2025 under the ActThe main law that sets Australia Post's powers and duties, and which this bill amends.’s fallback commencement rule.
Government says parcel growth and automation exposed gaps in mail screening laws
The minister said rising international parcel volumes, automation and growing biosecurity and national security threats were putting Australia’s mail gateways under pressure and showing the law was no longer fit for modern screening and intervention.
Hansard ↗Government introduces the bill to expand information sharing and clarify mail powers
The bill was introduced to let Australia PostThe government-owned postal operator that handles letters, parcels and the mail-screening powers being updated here. share information with approved agencies, clarify who may lawfully open or examine mail, and set clearer powers for dealing with dangerous postal articles.
Parliamentary timeline ↗House agrees postal bill should proceed
Second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed. agreement in the House showed parliamentary support for updating the postal law to match modern investigative, regulatory and border-screening work.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both houses passed the same text, clearing the way for the new mail-information sharing and dangerous-item handling powers to become law.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. creates the ActThe main law that sets Australia Post's powers and duties, and which this bill amends.
Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. turned the bill into an Act, but the main Schedule 1 mail-screening and information-sharing changes were still waiting for proclamation or the six-month fallback start date.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Postal law changes take effect
Schedule 1, which contained the substantive information-sharing, screening and dangerous-mail handling changes, took effect after the ActThe main law that sets Australia Post's powers and duties, and which this bill amends.’s six-month fallback commencement period.
Federal Register of Legislation ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed., opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed. moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed. debate
The chamber agreed to the bill at second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed., meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed. agreed to
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Reported from Federation Chamber
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The scrutiny committee recorded that it considered the bill in Scrutiny Digest 7 of 2024.
Considered
Collected source bundleThe bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed., opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed. moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed., meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed. agreed to
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far, and no party represented in the debate argued that its core mail-screening or information-sharing changes would cause clear harm. The debate material instead shows support from government and coalition speakers, with criticism limited at most to the need for safeguards that supporters said were already included.
No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far.
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage.
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Michelle Rowland supports the bill, saying it will strengthen mail screening and information sharing so Australia PostThe government-owned postal operator that handles letters, parcels and the mail-screening powers being updated here. and border agencies can better respond to biosecurity, national security and dangerous-goods risks.
Read in Hansard ↗Coleman says the coalition supports the bill because it strengthens security and streamlines mail-handling processes, giving officials more tools to keep Australians safe.
Read in Hansard ↗Carol Brown supports the bill, saying it will strengthen postal security by improving information sharing, clarifying inspection powers, and giving Australia PostThe government-owned postal operator that handles letters, parcels and the mail-screening powers being updated here. and border agencies more flexibility to respond to emerging risks.
Read in Hansard ↗McAllister supports the bill and says it will modernise Australia PostThe government-owned postal operator that handles letters, parcels and the mail-screening powers being updated here. and border agencies' mail-screening powers to better protect safety, border security and biosecurity.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
3 speakers · 4 contributions · 3 support
“The Australian Postal Corporation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 will strengthen regulatory regimes for international mail screening, inspection, and where warranted, intervention.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Michelle Rowland on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Minister's second reading speech
Michelle Rowland supports the bill, saying it will strengthen mail screening and information sharing so Australia PostThe government-owned postal operator that handles letters, parcels and the mail-screening powers being updated here. and border agencies can better respond to biosecurity, national security and dangerous-goods risks. She argues the changes are needed to give the agencies clearer powers, more flexibility and better legal certainty.
“In summary, the proposed amendments will contribute to immediate enhancements to Australia's border protection, biosecurity and national security, and provide greater flexibility for Australia Post and border agencies to lawfully deal with current and emerging security risks in the mail stream. I commend the bill to the House.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Rowland supports the bill, saying it modernises mail screening laws, improves information sharing and disposal powers, and strengthens border protection, biosecurity and national security with privacy safeguards and scrutiny.
“Importantly, these measures have been designed with appropriate privacy safeguards and will be subject to existing strict parameters and reporting obligations in the act. There has also been extensive consultation with Australia Post and relevant agencies throughout the development of the draft bill since 2018. They have confirmed that there is an operational need to modernise the legislation. This legislation will contribute to immediate enhancements to Australia's border protection, biosecurity and national security. I commend the bill to the House.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“This bill will strengthen the legislative framework for the screening and inspection of domestic and international mail, to ensure they are fit for purpose for the modern age.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
2 speakers · 2 support
“The coalition supports the bill as it seeks to strengthen security and streamline processes related to mail delivery. The coalition will always stand up for border security, and this legislation gives our officials more tools for their task of keeping Australians safe.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The coalition supports the bill, as it seeks to strengthen security and streamline processes around mail deliveries. We will always stand up for border security, and this legislation gives our officials more tools to keep Australians safe.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed. opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed., opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Second reading debate
Second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed. debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed. debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed. agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed., meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
House · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed. opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed., opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate · Second reading debate
Second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed. debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed. agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second readingThe stage where the House agrees in principle that a bill should proceed., meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Senate · Committee of the Whole debate
Committee of the Whole debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills
Considered
The scrutiny committee recorded that it considered the bill in Scrutiny Digest 7 of 2024.
Considered by scrutiny committee (16 May 2024): Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Scrutiny Digest 7 of 2024
Collected source bundle
