The Australian Senate has passed an amendment to its autonomous sanctions bill (i.e., ‘Magnitsky-type’ sanctions), broadening the sweep of its legislation and bringing it closer to implementation.
Specifically, the changes amend the Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011 to ‘specify thematic categories of conduct to which autonomous sanctions can be applied; clarify that autonomous sanctions regimes established under the regulations can be either country-specific or thematic; and specify decision-making processes for imposing targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on person and entities under thematic sanctions regimes.’
Addressing lawmakers in the Senate, Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the legislation ‘will mean Australia can take timely action, including with like-minded partners, where it’s in the national interest, in response to situations of international concern wherever they occur in the world.’
She added that the government, in response to a parliamentary committee report on the bill, had added ‘a new thematic cyber-regime [to] serve alongside other law enforcement and operational mechanisms to enhance Australia’s responses to instances of egregious malicious cyberactivity that impact our interests.’
Read full article at https://www.worldecr.com/news/australias-magnitsky-bill-passes-senate-hearing/
