Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Magnitsky-style and Other Thematic Sanctions) 2021

# Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Magnitsky-style and Other Thematic Sanctions) 2021 ## What it does Australia's government can now impose sanctions (freezing assets, travel bans, etc.) on individuals and organisations for five new reasons beyond just country-specific concerns: weapons proliferation, threats to peace, cyber attacks, serious human rights abuses, and corruption. Previously, sanctions were mostly tied to specific countries. ## Why it matters This gives Australia a tool to punish bad actors anywhere in the world without waiting for a full international incident or formal conflict. It's modelled on US "Magnitsky" laws that target human rights abusers and corrupt officials directly—so a government official known for torture or a corporate executive involved in serious fraud could face Australian sanctions independently. ## Key details - The changes apply to five thematic areas: weapons of mass destruction, international peace threats, cyber attacks, human rights abuses, and corruption/governance failures - Before imposing sanctions under these new powers, the Foreign Minister must consult the Attorney-General and get written agreement - The law took effect the day after it received Royal Assent (so it's already in force)

🔒 Voting closed — this bill has been decided by parliament