Senator ALLISON —Madam President, my question is directed to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Is the minister aware that Australia Post through its Geospend division has delivered to all householders in the last couple of weeks the Australian Family Lifestyle Survey ? Does the minister agree that most people filling in this survey, which is covered by Australia Post logos, have been fooled into thinking that this is an official government sponsored form? Minister, why does the survey say, in bold type, that security and confidentiality are assured when the names, home addresses, email and telephone numbers can be sold on by Australia Post, together with the very personal details asked for in this survey? Minister, how much money will Australia Post make from this misleading practice and does the minister condone this kind of behaviour in his own agency?

Senator ALSTON (Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) —Australia Post has advised the government that the family lifestyle survey being conducted by Geospend, which is a division of Australia Post, is funded by industry sponsorship rather than revenue from Australia Post's other operations. The layout of the survey form reflects the outcome of consultations between Australia Post, the Privacy Commissioner and the Australian Direct Marketing Association. One can assume from that that the Privacy Commissioner was satisfied with the arrangements that had been entered into in putting the survey together. The survey's introductory letter states that the information obtained may be given to certain businesses who will then send information on their products and services to those people participating in the survey. The letter emphasises that the survey is optional and that those who elect to participate may complete as many questions as they wish and ignore those they would prefer not to answer. I think it ought to be clear that what you have here is an arrangement that involves informed consent, that provides the opportunity for respondents to decide—

Senator Woodley —It is a con.

Senator ALSTON —I do not know what that means, but it is a con. It is an up-front disclosure of an intention to use material in a particular way which is obtained from those who are willingly prepared to allow it to be used in that form.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Senator ALSTON —Senator Allison seems once again not to be prepared to take account of any of that information because it does not fit in with any of her preconceived prejudices. I regret that because it would seem to me, on the face of it, that Australia Post has gone to considerable efforts to ensure that it does satisfy the relevant privacy concerns and that it is able to obtain information that will be of use to it. It is empowered under the Postal Corporation Act to carry on business or activity that is incidental to the supply of postal services. Presumably, this information is designed to assist in the better performance of its business and it is done in such a way that it is sympathetic to privacy consideration.

Senator ALLISON —I thank the minister for his answer but I ask him to acknowledge that the Privacy Commissioner has said that nothing can be done in this respect because the people who fill out this survey have no privacy protection under the Privacy Act because Australia Post is collecting this data as a commercial activity. Minister, are there any restrictions at all on how this information, which is being sold for commercial gain, can be used? How does the minister propose to protect the privacy of Australian householders who have been misled by Australia Post into thinking that this survey is confidential? Minister, Australia Post conducted the same kind of survey last year and you said that your government would legislate to protect people against this sort of invasion of privacy. Minister, when will we see some action?

Senator ALSTON (Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) —Once again, Senator Allison is simply not interested in the facts. She asks me why Australia Post have misled people into thinking that the information is confidential when, as I have already indicated, the survey's introductory letter states that the information obtained may be given to certain businesses who will then send information on their products and services to those people participating in the survey. If what you are saying to me is that some people choose not to read the material but to blindly fill in the survey—despite the fact that they are not required to, and it ought to be plain to anyone that you have no obligation to fill in these forms—I do not know what words mean and clearly Senator Alison does not either.