Targeted sanctions in Australia: what now?

In December 2021, Australia expanded its targeted sanctions framework, which allows the government to impose asset freezes and travel bans on various categories of 'undesirable' foreigners (and, in theory, Australians!). Magnitsky-style sanctions, which respond to grand corruption or serious human rights abuse overseas, have been a particularly prominent part of the reform. A parliamentary inquiry in the run-up to these changes had highlighted multiple areas of concern, including:

• What is the objective of such sanctions, especially when imposed against people with no assets in Australia?
• How can sanctions decisions be principled and not politically motivated?
• How will due process be ensured and the targeted person's rights respected?

This presentation will seek to shed light on these questions and the possible future trajectories of Australia's sanctions regime.

About the Speaker

Anton Moiseienko is a Lecturer at the ANU College of Law. His work focuses on transnational crime, economic crime and cybercrime, as well as legal and policy aspects of targeted sanctions.

This event will only be delivered online via Zoom.

Image credit: Photo of US and EU banknotes by Ibrahim Boran at Unsplash (free to use under Unsplash licence)