The Australian Government commenced public consultation on an Exposure Draft of the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Bill 2023 (the Bill) to strengthen Australia’s export control framework and give effect to the licence/permit-free environment for our AUKUS partners.

The Bill has been released on Defence’s website together will the Explanatory Memorandum (both also attached below).

Exposure Draft – Defence Trade Controls Amendment Bill 2023 – Explanatory Memorandum

Exposure Draft -Defence Trade Controls Amendment Bill

This Bill will create three new criminal offences in the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012 for the:

* Supply of Defence and Strategic Goods List (DSGL) technology to a foreign person within Australia.

* Supply of DSGL goods or technology, that were previously exported or supplied from Australia, from a foreign country to another country, or within the same foreign country.

* Provision of DSGL services.

The Bill would also provide a national exemption to the UK and the US from Australia’s export control permit requirements under the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012.

The Prime Minister has also publicly stated that the intention is to introduce legislation as early as this year.

Public consultation will run from today through until Friday 17 November 2023. Submissions for feedback can be emailed to [email protected].