Major Sporting Events (Indicia and Images) Protection Amendment Bill 2026: Moving from schedules to rules for Brisbane 2032 and beyond

The short answer

Major Sporting Events (Indicia and Images) Protection Amendment Bill 2026: Moving from schedules to rules for Brisbane 2032 and beyond

The Major Sporting Events (Indicia and Images) Protection Amendment Bill 2026 is a government bill introduced in the House of Representatives on 25 June 2026 that has passed the House and is now before the Senate. According to the official summary on the Parliament of Australia bill page, it amends the Major Sporting Events (Indicia and Images) Protection Act 2014 to change the framework for protecting the commercial rights associated with major sporting events by enabling future events and associated matters to be prescribed by legislative instrument, replacing the need to amend primary legislation for each new event. This means future events including the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games could be prescribed by legislative rules rather than requiring new primary legislation. The bill also introduces criteria for which events qualify and limits on how long protections can last. The portfolio is Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.

This is a federal system guide. State constitutions, parliaments and local-government laws can allocate comparable functions differently.

The useful question is not only “what is the rule?” but also “who administers it, which document controls it, and when might it change?” That distinction prevents an accurate general explanation from becoming wrong advice in a particular election, chamber or policy setting.

Evidence review

What the bill proposes

The Major Sporting Events (Indicia and Images) Protection Amendment Bill 2026 was introduced in the House of Representatives on 25 June 2026. It is a government bill under the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts portfolio. The House passed the bill at third reading on 1 July 2026, it was introduced in the Senate the same day, and as of 10 August 2026 it remains before the Senate.

The official summary published on the Parliament bill page states that the bill 'amends the Major Sporting Events (Indicia and Images) Protection Act 2014 to amend the framework for protecting the commercial rights associated with major sporting events by enabling future events and associated matters to be prescribed by legislative instrument, replacing the need to amend primary legislation for each new event.'

The bill amends the Major Sporting Events (Indicia and Images) Protection Act 2014, which aims to prevent unauthorised commercial use — commonly known as ambush marketing — of protected indicia and images associated with major sporting events. Under the current Act, every time a major sporting event is to be held in Australia, a separate bill must be introduced into Parliament to add the event to a Schedule. The amendment bill replaces this with an instruments-based approach: the Minister would be able to prescribe events and their protected indicia and images through legislative rules.

The EM states this approach will 'reduce the need for repeated primary legislation amendments and allow more timely recognition of events.' It is explicitly intended to support upcoming events, 'including the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.' The bill also repeals the Schedules relating to historical events that have already concluded.

Evidence review

How ambush marketing protection works now

The Major Sporting Events (Indicia and Images) Protection Act 2014 makes it an offence to use protected indicia (words, logos, designs) and images associated with a major sporting event for commercial purposes without authorisation. This prevents companies that have not paid for sponsorship rights from creating a false impression of association with the event — for example, running advertisements that imply they are an official sponsor when they are not.

Under the current law, each event must be listed in a Schedule to the Act through a dedicated amendment bill. This has meant that for events like the 2015 Asian Cup, the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, and the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, Parliament had to pass separate legislation. The EM describes this as creating an unnecessary legislative burden, particularly as Australia prepares to host the Brisbane 2032 Olympics — one of the world's largest sporting events, with an extended protection period.

Evidence review

The new rules-based mechanism

Under the proposed amendments, the core legislative framework — including what constitutes an offence, what indicia and images are protected, and the penalties for breach — remains in the primary Act. What changes is the mechanism for declaring which events are protected. Instead of amending the Act each time, the Minister would make legislative rules prescribing events and associated indicia and images.

Legislative rules are a form of delegated legislation. They are made by the executive but are subject to parliamentary scrutiny under the Legislation Act 2003, including tabling in both houses and potential disallowance. The EM argues this is 'appropriate given the need for timely, event-specific adjustments' while preserving parliamentary oversight.

The bill introduces criteria that must be satisfied before a major sporting event can be prescribed, as well as limits on the length of the protection period. The EM states these criteria 'ensure that protections are applied only to events of international significance, and that the exercise of the power remains targeted and proportionate.' This is designed to prevent the power being used for minor or domestic-only events.

Evidence review

Brisbane 2032 and the practical impact

The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games are explicitly referenced in the EM as events that would be supported by the new framework. Olympic Games have extensive commercial rights programs, with sponsors paying significant sums for exclusive association. Ambush marketing protection is a standard part of host city contracts with the International Olympic Committee.

Without this bill, Australia would need to pass a dedicated Act to protect Brisbane 2032 indicia and images, and potentially additional legislation for test events, qualifying tournaments and cultural festivals associated with the Games. The rules-based approach means all of these could be prescribed through instruments, reducing the legislative burden while maintaining legal protections.

The EM notes that following enactment of the amendments, 'rules are intended to be developed to support upcoming events, including the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.'

Evidence review

Financial impact and consultation

The EM states 'there is no financial impact' from the bill. This is consistent with its nature as a procedural reform — it changes how events are declared, not the scope or enforcement of protections. Targeted consultation was conducted with Home Affairs, IP Australia, Border Force, the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, and the Office of Impact Analysis.

The Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights, prepared in accordance with the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011, states that the bill is compatible with human rights. The EM notes that the bill does not expand the scope of criminal offences — it only changes the mechanism for declaring which events attract protection.

Evidence review

Legislative path and remaining steps

The bill passed all stages in the House of Representatives on 1 July 2026 after being considered by the Federation Chamber, and was introduced in the Senate and read a first time the same day, with the second reading moved. As of 10 August 2026 the bill is before the Senate, where it must pass — potentially with amendments — before it can receive Royal Assent.

The Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills considered the bill on 1 July 2026; it was reported in Scrutiny Digest 8 of 2026. No proposed amendments have been circulated to date. The bill commences on the day after Royal Assent. Once enacted, the government would need to develop and table the legislative rules prescribing events like Brisbane 2032.

As a government bill with a practical purpose — facilitating protections for Brisbane 2032 — the bill addresses a practical need and was received without recorded objection in the House, though the Senate may scrutinise the criteria for prescribing events and the scope of the Minister's discretionary power. The repeal of historical event Schedules is a non-controversial tidying-up measure.

Common questions

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