Wendy Askew (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Birmingham, I move:

That the following matters be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 11 February 2025:

(a) an assessment of the consistency in application of Australia's sanctions regime compared with Australia's key partners and allies, including the identification of any gaps and time lags in their application;

(b) consideration of the evidence on how effective more timely, universal and predictable sanctions regimes are in targeting and addressing behaviour of designated individuals and entities;

(c) identification and consideration of existing sanctions coordination and harmonisation frameworks and mechanisms between countries;

(d) consideration of specific measures to improve the coordination, collaboration, timeliness and multilateralisation of sanctions;

(e) consideration of mechanisms to freeze and confiscate assets belonging to sanctioned persons/entities and how the proceeds can be used to benefit peoples and countries impacted by the behaviour of sanctioned individuals and entities;

(f) consideration of options to enhance the effectiveness of Australia's sanctions regime through engagement with the Australian community, civil society, financial institutions and other organisations;

(g) identification and consideration of methods to assess the effectiveness of sanctions decisions and/or the extent to which sanctions are having the intended impact, and recommend any improvements;

(h) consideration of how Australia's sanctions regime could better align with Australia's existing anti-corruption and crime measures, including to better target Australians involved in designated actions; and

(i) any recommendations on improvements to Australia's sanctions framework.

Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

Omit paragraphs (a) to (i), substitute:

(a) an assessment of the consistency in application of Australia's sanctions regime and in coordination with key partners and allies, including the identification of any gaps and time lags in their application;

(b) consideration of the evidence on how sanctions regimes are in targeting and addressing behaviour of designated individuals and entities;

(c) consideration of specific measures to coordinate, collaborate, and harmonise sanctions with partners and allies, and multilaterally, including how different interests can be taken into account;

(d) consideration of mechanisms to freeze and confiscate assets belonging to sanctioned persons/entities and how the proceeds can be used to benefit peoples and countries impacted by the behaviour of sanctioned individuals and entities;

(e) consideration of opportunities for engagement by the Australian community, civil society, financial institutions and other organisations in Australia's sanctions regime;

(f) consideration of methods to assess the effectiveness of sanctions decisions and/or the extent to which sanctions are having the intended impact, and recommend any improvements;

(g) consideration of how Australia's sanctions regime could better align with Australia's existing anti-corruption and crime measures, including to better target Australians involved in designated actions;

(h) consideration of the role of sanctions in an increasingly complex global context, where geo-strategic competition is re-shaping our region; and

(i) any other matters that are relevant to the effectiveness of Australia's sanctions framework.

Question agreed to.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that business of the Senate motion No. 2, standing in the name of Senator Birmingham and moved by Senator Askew, and amended by Senator Ciccone, be agreed to.

A division having been called and the bells being rung—

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was the Australian Greens who called this division, and I seek leave to cancel the division, if that's possible, please.

Leave granted.

Question agreed to.