Countries that commit ‘egregious’ human rights abuses to face financial sanctions, travel bans from Australia

Australia will follow several other Western nations in introducing a tough new sanctions regime to make it easier for the federal government to seize the assets of human rights abusers and felons.

Important points:

• Australia has agreed to join a movement to punish human rights violators with tougher sanctions
• Financial sanctions and travel bans could be imposed on countries that commit abuse, wage cyber wars, trade weapons of mass destruction or facilitate serious corruption
• The Magnitsky Law was passed by several western countries trying to punish countries like Russia, China and Myanmar for their actions

Backbenchers from across Parliament have urged the government to introduce its own version of the US Magnitsky Act, which the US government developed to address “human rights abusers, kleptocrats and corrupt actors” with economic sanctions and travel bans.

In a statement, Secretary of State Marise Payne said the government would “reform and modernize” Australia’s autonomous sanctions laws to make it easier for them to target “perpetrators of outrageous acts of international importance”.

She said this could include those who have committed “grave human rights violations”, but also those who are guilty of serious corruption, malicious cyber activities, and even those who have helped develop weapons of mass destruction.

Foreign Secretary Marise Payne said the government would reform its sanctions laws by the end of the year.

Australia already has sanctions laws, but critics have repeatedly complained that the existing regime is inflexible and does not allow the government to respond quickly to human rights violations as they arise.

The foreign minister said she wanted the new sanctions laws in place by the end of the year.

The announcement has already been welcomed by coalition and Labor backbenchers who are campaigning for change.

“It is wonderful that the Morrison administration is joining our closest friends and allies around the world with a Magnitsky-style sanctions regime to target human rights abusers, corrupt officials and those who threaten our national security,” said the Liberal Senator James Paterson.

“This sends the message that there is a cost to undermining international rules and standards.”

There’s more to come.