Senator David Fawcett Announcement – https://www.facebook.com/senatorfawcett/
In response to the report of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) which I tabled in December, Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator the Hon Marise Payne announced yesterday that the Australian Government is reforming and modernising Australia’s autonomous sanctions laws to apply targeted sanctions and travel bans to perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption.
I particularly recognise Kevin Andrews MP, Chair of the Human Rights sub-committee of JSCFADT who conducted this inquiry.
The sub-committee considered submissions from over 160 individuals and organisations from around the world, and benefitted from the contributions of a number of pre-eminent human rights experts, experienced with Magnitsky-style laws at the global level.
I welcome this announcement as it sees Australia strengthen its commitment to protecting the human rights of people around the world – holding the perpetrators of human rights abuses to account.
Expanding upon Australia’s current country-based autonomous sanctions framework, the proposed reforms provide the Government with the flexibility to deploy sanctions in response to situations of international concern, as appropriate and when in Australia’s national interest.
These measures will prevent Australia becoming a destination of choice for the funds and activities of corrupt individuals, and working with like-minded nations such as the US, UK, and the EU, be a significant step forward in protecting the human rights of countless citizens around the world.
More information on this announcement: https://bit.ly/2VBZUW0
Full JSCFADT report: https://bit.ly/38gapRx