Why You’re Getting Bombarded With ‘Trumpet of Patriots’ Texts — And Why It’s Totally Legal (Unfortunately)

Political Text Spam Is Legal in Australia — Because Politicians Made It That Way

If you’ve been receiving unsolicited political text messages like those from the “Trumpet of Patriots,” you’re not alone — and no, they’re not breaking the law. In fact, Australian legislation explicitly allows it.

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The Spam Act: Protects You From Ads, Not Politicians

The Spam Act 2003 requires businesses to get your consent before sending marketing messages via email, SMS, or instant messaging. It also mandates unsubscribe options. But here's the catch: this only applies to commercial marketing — not political messages.

So, while a clothing brand needs your consent to send you a 10% discount code, a political party can flood your inbox with propaganda without your permission.

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The Do Not Call Register: Useless When It Comes to Politics

The Do Not Call Register Act was created to stop nuisance telemarketing. You can add your number to the list to block sales calls — but again, political parties are exempt. That means even if you’re on the DNCR, candidates and political operatives can still legally contact you.

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The Privacy Act: Everyone Follows It — Except Political Parties

The Privacy Act 1988 governs how organisations collect and use your personal information. But political parties, MPs, and contractors working for them are specifically excluded from the law's stricter rules.

They’re not required to disclose how they got your number, why they’re contacting you, or what they plan to do with your data. That data might have come from petition sign-ups, social media scraping, or even leaked databases — and there’s almost nothing you can do about it.

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The Loopholes Are Real — And They’re by Design

These exemptions didn’t happen by accident. Decades ago, politicians carved themselves out of the rules meant to protect us from spam. The result? Voters are sitting ducks for election-season digital harassment.

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Can You Stop the Messages? Not Really.

There’s no legal requirement for political messages to include an unsubscribe link. And even if one is included, it’s often ineffective. Your best bet? Complain to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).