27th Jun 2018, 9:51 AM – Senate National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill 2017 and another - First Reading - Consider bills together

The majority voted in favour of a motion that these bills may proceed without formalities and be taken together. Because this vote was successful, the two bills will be considered at the same time and more speedily than usual.

What do these bills do?

These bills were introduced to target foreign influence in Australia by creating a new transparency scheme and introducing a series of new offences targeting things like sabotage, treason and espionage.

Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2018

This bill was introduced to establish the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme to, which will:

• require registration by certain people undertaking certain activities on behalf of a foreign principal;
• require registrants to disclose information about the nature of their relationship with the foreign principal and activities undertaken pursuant to that relationship;
• place additional disclosure requirements on registrants during elections and other voting periods;
• establish a register of scheme information and provide for certain information to be made publicly available;
• provide the secretary with powers to obtain information and documents; and
• establish various penalties for non-compliance with the scheme.

Read more in the bills digest.

National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill 2018

This bill was introduced to:

• amend existing, and introduce new, espionage offences relating to a broad range of dealings with information, including solicitation and preparation and planning offences;
• introduce new offences relating to foreign interference with Australia’s political, governmental or democratic processes;
• replace the existing sabotage offence with new sabotage offences relating to conduct causing damage to a broad range of critical infrastructure that could prejudice Australia’s national security;
• introduce a new offence relating to theft of trade secrets on behalf of a foreign government;
• amend existing, and introduce new, offences relating to treason and other threats to national security, such as interference with Australian democratic or political rights by conduct involving the use of force, violence or intimidation; and
• introduce a new aggravated offence where a person provides false or misleading information relating to an application for, or maintenance of, an Australian Government security clearance.

Read more in the bills digest.