What are autonomous sanctions?

Autonomous sanctions are punitive measures imposed on individuals, organisations, and countries engaged in activities that threaten international security, human rights, or global stability, and are intended to restrict:

• Financial transactions with sanctioned entities
• Travel to or from sanctioned countries
• Export and import of restricted goods or services
• Engagement with institutions linked to sanctioned regimes

Australian autonomous sanctions regimes are primarily implemented under the Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011 and the Australian Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011, and are regulated by the Australian Sanctions Office, a division of the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT). The Explanatory Memorandum to the Autonomous Sanctions Bill 2010 outlines the aims of these regimes as follows:

• 'to limit the adverse consequences of the situation of international concern (for example, by denying access to military or paramilitary goods, or to goods, technologies or funding that are enabling the pursuit of programs of proliferation concern);
• to seek to influence those responsible for giving rise to the situation of international concern to modify their behaviour to remove the concern (by motivating them to adopt different policies); and
• to penalise those responsible (for example, by denying access to international travel or to the international financial system).'

In addition, the Australian Government observes the United Nations Security Council sanctions regimes, which are primarily implemented under the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945 and its sets of regulations.

For a detailed list of current sanctions, please see the DFAT Sanctions Regimes webpage.

Consolidated list

The Australian Sanctions Office maintains and routinely updates the Consolidated List; a list of all individuals and entities subject to Australian sanctions. This list serves as a useful due-diligence tool, to identify whether any parties involved in ACU activities may be subject to sanctions.

For access to the list, please see the DFAT Consolidated List webpage.

How does this impact ACU?

Sanctions can impact a variety of university activities, such as:

• Restricted Collaborations - ACU has an obligation to avoid partnerships with sanctioned entities.
• Financial Compliance - Research, philanthropic, and other funding sources must be screened for links to sanctioned individuals and entities.
• Travel Restrictions - Staff and students may be subject to travel bans affecting conference attendance or fieldwork.

Under certain circumstances, it may be possible to secure a sanctions permit, authorising an activity that would otherwise contravene Australian sanctions laws.

Sanctions can change frequently, and staff and students are advised to regularly consult the DFAT website for current information. Importantly, Australian sanction laws apply broadly, including to activities in Australia, and to activities by Australian citizens and Australian organisations overseas.

Resources

• DFAT Sanctions Website
• DFAT Consolidated List Webpage
• DFAT Sanctions Compliance Toolkit
• DFAT Sanctions Risk Assessment Tool
• United Nations Security Council Sanctions Website
• Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011
• Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011
• Charter of the United Nations Act 1945