After a tip-off from Grendel, I have sent the following email to Steve Fielding.

To: senator.fielding@aph.gov.au
From: The Editor
Subject: Coat Of Arms

Dear Senator Fielding,

I notice that you display the Commonwealth Coat Of Arms on your personal webpage, www.stevefielding.com. Can you tell me if this is in compliance with the Trade Practices Act and the Trade Marks Act?

“The Commonwealth Coat of Arms is the pre-eminent mark of Commonwealth authority, power and function. Its use, with a few limited exceptions, is limited to the Commonwealth Parliament, the Australian Government and the Federal Courts. The Arms are not in the public domain.”

“Permission to use the Commonwealth Coat of Arms in other than the context of denoting Commonwealth authority and property, is granted by this department, on a case by case basis, but usually in only two circumstances, to sporting teams representing Australia in international competition, and for educational purposes.”

“Use of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms without permission may be in breach of sections 53 (c) and (d) of the Trade Practices Act 1974, Section 145.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 or Section 39 (2) of the Trade Marks Act 1995.”

Regards,
The Editor