Much of the commentary about McCloy, the High Court’s recent decision upholding NSW’s ban on donations by property developers, will concern the disagreement among members of the Court about the appropriate method for analysing burdens on the freedom of political communication, and I will look forward to what my colleagues have to say. My own contribution to the blog symposium on this case focuses on a long-standing consensus point: namely, the idea that the freedom is not an ‘individual right’.
Although I imagine members of the public might feel somewhat scandalized if told the right of individuals to communicate political matters is a fake idea in Australia, this is something the Court seems firmly committed to. Each of the four judgments in McCloy affirms this proposition: at – (French CJ, Kiefel, Bell, and Keane JJ); at – (Gageler J); at  (Nettle J); at – (Gordon J).
Jeremy Gans, ‘News: Justice Gageler Removes Himself from Unions NSW Case’ (6 November 2013).
2.8 give out or distribute to any bystander or passer-by any handbill, book, notice, or other printed matter.