Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I would like it recorded that the Australian Greens voted aye for those amendments. I seek leave to move Greens amendments(1) to (6) on sheet 1508 together.

Leave granted

I move Greens amendments (1) to (6) on sheet 1508 together.

(1) Schedule 1, item 4, page 3 (line 25), at the end of subsection 3(3), add:

; (f) failures to comply with international human rights law or international humanitarian law.

(2) Schedule 1, item 6, page 4 (line 16), at the end of subsection 10(4), add:

; and (e) if the proposed proscription addresses a matter mentioned in paragraph 3(3)(d) or (f)—the Minister must consider any credible information provided by a civil society organisation that monitors violations or abuses of human rights or has expertise in international human rights law or international humanitarian law.

(3) Schedule 1, item 6, page 4 (line 30), at the end of subsection 10(5), add:

; and (e) if the proscription addresses a matter mentioned in paragraph 3(3)(d) or (f)—the Minister must consider any credible information provided by a civil society organisation that monitors violations or abuses of human rights or has expertise in international human rights law or international humanitarian law.

(4) Schedule 1, item 6, page 4 (after line 33), at the end of the item, add:

(7) The regulations must prescribe one or more processes under which a civil society organisation may provide information to the Minister as mentioned in paragraphs (4)(e) and (5)(e).

(8) Without limiting subsection (7), the regulations may provide for any of the following:

(a) the Minister to convene regular meetings with civil society organisations;

(b) the Minister to convene such other meetings with civil society organisations as are necessary to respond to an international crisis;

(c) opportunities for civil society organisations to provide information in confidence to the Minister;

(d) the development of strategies and guidelines for ministerial and departmental engagement with civil society organisations.

(5) Schedule 1, page 4 (after line 33), after item 6, insert:

6A Before section 28

Insert:

27A Annual report on sanctions

(1) The Minister must prepare a report on the autonomous sanctions applied under this Act during each calendar year.

(2) The Minister must table a copy of the report in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the end of the calendar year to which the report relates.

(6) Schedule 1, item 7, page 5 (after line 13), at the end of the item, add:

(5) Section 27A of the Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011, as inserted by this Schedule, applies in relation to calendar years beginning on or after the commencement of this item.

These amendments reflect recommendations of the joint standing committee and our consultation with civil society. We think they will significantly improve the framework and the capacity of civil society to engage on the issues that are being addressed—whether to apply targeted sanctions while not distracting from the minister's powers.