Major Sporting Events (Indicia and Images) Protection Amendment Bill 2026

Senator GREEN (Queensland—Assistant Minister for Tourism, Assistant Minister for Pacific Island Affairs and Assistant Minister for Northern Australia) (11:06): Thank you for all the contributions on the Major Sporting Events (Indicia and Images) Protection Amendment Bill 2026 from those other senators. The bill before us modernises Australia's framework for protecting the indicia and images associated with major sporting events.

It addresses a clear limitation in the current act, which requires events to be listed in schedules and updated through primary legislation through the parliament. The bill replaces that approach with a flexible rules based framework, allowing events and their associated protections to be prescribed by a legislative instrument. The use of legislative rules is appropriate given the need for timely event-specific adjustments while remaining subject to parliamentary scrutiny under the Legislation Act 2003.

This will enable protections to be applied for more efficiently, in a timely way, as Australia continues to host major international events. There are some really good ones coming up. A key feature of the bill is the introduction of clear statutory requirements for declaring major sporting events.

An event may only be prescribed where the minister is satisfied that it is of international significance and that it is consistent with the objects of the act. The protection period also cannot exceed a period which the minister reasonably considers necessary, having regard to the objects of the act. The minister may also consider factors such as attendance and the broader impact on the Australian international sporting relationships.

These requirements ensure that protections are applied consistently and appropriately. The bill also maintains a balanced approach. Protections apply only to unauthorised commercial use, and existing exemptions for legitimate activities such as reporting and commentary remain in place.

Finally, the bill streamlines the act by removing outdated schedules, a requirement at the moment because we don't have the rules based system, and this establishes a framework that is fit for future events. As I said, I won't take too much more of the Senate's time other than to say two things. First of all, as we head towards the green and gold runway of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we know that the world's spotlight will be on Australia to deliver world-class international sporting events.

I really look forward to the Senate's support of this bill so that the Australian government can support those organisations who are delivering these events over the next couple of years and do that in a way that protects the images, the logos and all of the important mechanisms that this bill will achieve. I also note the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills asked the minister to respond to questions about the need for a rules based system.

In relation to that, I table the addendum to the explanatory memorandum relating to the Major Sporting Events (Indicia and Images) Protection Amendment Bill 2026. This addendum responds to the matters raised by the scrutiny of bills committee. The PRESIDENT: The question is that the second reading be agreed to.