✦ Plain-English Summary

Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Bill 2020

What it does

The federal government now has power to approve or block any international agreements that state and territory governments try to make — whether with foreign governments, companies, or organisations. States and territories must notify the federal Foreign Affairs Minister before negotiating or signing these deals, and he can refuse permission.

Why it matters

This stops situations where individual states negotiate their own foreign policies that might clash with Australia's national interests or diplomatic relationships. For example, a state couldn't independently strike a trade deal or security agreement that contradicts what the federal government is doing with another country.

Key details

• Who's affected: State and territory governments, plus any bodies they own or control
• What requires approval: "Core foreign arrangements" — basically any significant deal with foreign governments, organisations, or entities (the bill defines this broadly)
• The process: States must notify the Minister before even starting negotiations. The Minister has 28 days to approve or reject; silence counts as approval
• No penalties listed in this excerpt, but the enforcement mechanisms appear elsewhere in the full bill

Official Description

Introduced with the Australia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020, the bill establishes a legislative scheme for Commonwealth engagement with arrangements between State or Territory governments and foreign governments, and their associated entities.

Committee Referrals

Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee; Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills

No formal division recorded

This bill passed by voice vote — parliament agreed without calling a formal count. A division is only recorded when a member explicitly requests one.

No votes yet.

No votes were recorded for this bill.