This page consolidates sanctions and export controls resources for Australia, covering four governmental bodies: the Australian Sanctions Office (ASO) within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Defence Export Controls (DEC) within the Department of Defence, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), and the Australian Border Force (ABF). Resources were retrieved in May 2026. All links were validated at time of retrieval.

Australian Sanctions Office (ASO) — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)

The Australian Sanctions Office is Australia’s primary sanctions regulator, established within DFAT on 1 January 2020. ASO administers both UN Security Council sanctions (implemented under the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945) and Australia’s autonomous sanctions regime (under the Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011 and Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011). ASO maintains the Consolidated List, processes sanctions permit applications via the PAX portal, issues guidance to regulated entities, and coordinates enforcement with partner agencies.

Designated Persons Lists and Screening Tools

• Consolidated List — ASO’s central list of all individuals, entities, and vessels subject to Australian financial sanctions, travel bans, arms embargoes, and maritime sanctions; updated regularly and available as an XLSX download.
• Subscribe to the Consolidated List Mailing List — Sign up via the Consolidated List page to receive email alerts on list updates and sanctions news from ASO.

Legislation and Regulations

• Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011 — Primary legislation establishing the framework for Australia’s autonomous sanctions, including the power to designate persons and entities and impose sanctions measures.
• Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011 — Regulations specifying sanctions measures, designation criteria by country and theme, and permit requirements under the autonomous sanctions framework.
• Charter of the United Nations Act 1945 — Legislation implementing UN Security Council sanctions obligations in Australia, forming the legal basis for UNSC-mandated designations and asset freezing.
• Charter of the United Nations (Dealing with Assets) Regulations 2008 — Regulations governing the freezing, reporting, and management of assets held by UNSC-listed persons and entities.

Sanctions Programs and Regimes

• Legislation and Sanctions Frameworks — Overview of Australia’s active sanctions frameworks by country and theme, including Afghanistan, Central African Republic, DRC, Counter-Terrorism (UNSC 1373), DPRK, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine (Crimea/Donetsk/Luhansk), Yemen, and thematic frameworks for human rights, corruption, and cyber.

Compliance Guidance — General

• Sanctions Compliance Toolkit — ASO’s flagship compliance document: a structured guide covering key principles, risk management strategies, asset freezing obligations, and best practices for regulated entities and legal professionals.
• Guidance Notes and Advisory Notes — Index — Full index of ASO guidance notes and advisory notes, covering sector-specific compliance, program-specific obligations, and sanctions threat advisories.

Compliance Guidance — By Sector or Industry

• Guidance Note — Financial Transactions Involving Designated Persons and Entities — Obligations for financial institutions when processing transactions that may involve designated persons or entities, including asset-freezing triggers and permit pathways.
• Guidance Note — Dealing with Assets Owned or Controlled by Designated Persons or Entities — Obligations for asset holders when assets are owned or controlled by a designated person, including the freeze requirement, permitted dealing exceptions, and reporting obligations to the AFP and ASO.
• Guidance Note — Digital Currency Exchanges — Sanctions compliance requirements for digital currency exchange operators, including screening obligations, ransomware payment risk, and AML/CTF alignment.
• Guidance Note — Fintech and the DeFi Sector — Guidance on sanctions risks for fintech and decentralised finance companies, covering cross-border transaction exposure, high-risk jurisdictions, and expected compliance controls.
• Guidance Note — Securities and Investments Sector — Sanctions obligations for securities issuers, traders, fund managers, and other investment sector participants, including freezing of securities and commercial activity prohibitions.
• Guidance Note — Maritime Sector — Obligations for financial and maritime sector participants when dealing with sanctioned vessels, including due diligence expectations and vessel screening requirements.
• Guidance Note — Cyber Sanctions — Australia’s cyber sanctions framework, compliance obligations under autonomous sanctions law, and the risk of ransomware payments to sanctioned persons or entities.
• Guidance Note — Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Technology Sector — Sanctions risks in the transfer of AI and quantum technology assets (including intangible assets) to designated persons or entities, and compliance obligations for entities operating in these sectors (published June 2025).
• Guidance Note — Sanctions Compliance for Accountants — Key sanctions risks for accounting service providers and new AML/CTF sanctions obligations applying to designated accounting services from 1 July 2026.
• Guidance Note — Sanctions Compliance for Legal Professionals — Sanctions compliance obligations for legal practitioners, including risks in transactional work, AML/CTF reform implications, and the class-based legal services permit (SAN-2024-00138).
• Guidance Note — Sanctions Compliance for Real Estate Professionals — Sanctions and AML/CTF TFS obligations for real estate agents, conveyancers, and property professionals, including new obligations applying from 1 July 2026.
• Guidance Note — Sanctions Compliance for Australian Government Agencies and Employees — Application of Australian sanctions laws to Commonwealth agencies, including grant-making, procurement, and employment risks.

Compliance Guidance — By Geography or Program

• Guidance Note — Import, Purchase or Transport of Firearms and Other Arms or Related Materiel from Sanctioned Countries — Sanctions prohibition on importing or purchasing arms, ammunition, and related goods originating in sanctioned countries, including a three-step test for determining whether goods fall within scope (updated September 2025).
• Guidance Note — The Import, Purchase or Transport of Russian-Origin Oil and Refined Petroleum Products and Related Services — Guidance on Australia’s autonomous sanctions on Russian-origin energy goods, Australia’s implementation of the G7 Oil Price Cap, blended product rules, and the financial services prohibitions (published February 2026; replaces the June 2025 de minimis quantities note).

Advisories

• Advisory Note — Sanctions and Proliferation Financing — FATF call-to-action context for DPRK and Iran, proliferation financing obligations under UNSC frameworks, and implications of FATF Recommendation 7 for Australian regulated entities.
• Advisory Note — DPRK Information Technology (IT) Workers — Alert on DPRK IT workers seeking remote employment with Australian businesses while concealing their nationality; includes characteristics, red flags, and criminal penalty exposure (first published August 2024; updated February 2026).
• Advisory Note — Global Advisory on Russian Sanctions Evasion (REPO Task Force) — Multilateral REPO Task Force advisory on typologies of Russian sanctions evasion, including use of proxies, private funds, and asset concealment; includes recommendations for private sector compliance programs.
• Advisory Note — Sanctions Risks of Incoming Funds from Iran — Alert to the Australian financial sector (banks, remitters, VASPs) on elevated sanctions risks from inbound funds linked directly or indirectly to Iran, including indicators of concern and compliance expectations (published March 2026).

Licensing — Application Procedures and Forms

• Apply for a Sanctions Permit — Guidance on when permits are required, how to apply (via PAX), UNSC vs autonomous sanctions permit criteria, and a register of currently active class-based permits.
• PAX Portal — ASO’s online platform for submitting sanctions permit applications, reporting potential sanctions breaches, and making general compliance enquiries.

Blogs and News Feeds

• ASO News and Updates — Official ASO news feed covering new and updated designations, guidance and advisory note releases, new class-based permits, and oil price cap adjustments.

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Defence Export Controls (DEC) — Department of Defence

Defence Export Controls is the Commonwealth regulator for the movement of military and strategic (dual-use) goods, software, technology, and related services within and outside Australia. DEC assesses permit applications under the Customs Act 1901 and the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012 (as amended in 2024), administers the Defence and Strategic Goods List (DSGL), operates the AUKUS licence-free environment (from 1 September 2024), and is also the regulator for the Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets (SAMS) legislation.

Designated Persons Lists and Screening Tools

• Defence and Strategic Goods List (DSGL) — Legislative instrument specifying all controlled military and dual-use goods, software, and technology requiring a DEC permit to export, supply, broker, or publish; includes Part 1 (Military) and Part 2 (Dual-Use) categories.
• My Australian Defence Exports (MADE) Portal — Access Guide — DEC’s guide to the MADE portal, used for all permit applications, AUKUS licence-free environment pre-notifications, and DSGL self-assessment enquiries; access is via ServiceConnect using the Australian Government Digital ID (myID).

Legislation and Regulations

• Export Controls Legislation Overview — DEC’s summary of the legislative instruments comprising Australia’s export controls framework, including the Customs Act 1901, Defence Trade Controls Act 2012 (as amended), WMD Act 1995, and Military End-Use provisions.
• Defence Trade Controls Act 2012 — Regulates the intangible supply, publication, and brokering of DSGL goods and technology; significantly amended by the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2024.
• Weapons of Mass Destruction (Prevention of Proliferation) Act 1995 — Catch-all controls on any goods, technology, or services that could assist a WMD program, regardless of whether they appear on the DSGL.

Trade Sanctions and Export Controls

• Export Controls Framework Overview — DEC’s top-level description of Australia’s export controls system, DEC’s regulatory role, the relationship to ASO and ABF, and coverage of SAMS legislation.
• Changes to Export Controls (September 2024) — Summary of the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2024 changes, including the AUKUS licence-free environment and three new offence provisions (s10A, 10B, 10C).

Dual-Use Goods Controls

• DSGL Part 2 — Dual-Use Goods Controls — Part 2 of the DSGL covers ten categories of dual-use goods including nuclear materials, chemicals, electronics, computers, telecommunications, sensors, navigation, marine, and aerospace goods.

Compliance Guidance — General

• DEC Guidance and Examples (PDF) — Detailed guidance covering the export controls legislative framework, permit triggers, exemptions, the AUKUS licence-free environment, brokering, and worked examples.
• Obligations and Requirements — DEC’s guide to permit conditions, reporting obligations, pre-notification requirements for AUKUS licence-free environment activities, and compliance expectations.

Licensing — Application Procedures and Forms

• Permits — Application Guide — Guidance on the types of DEC permits available (export, supply, broker, section 10A/10B/10C), how to apply via MADE, and contract-linked permit options.

Background and Policy

• Outreach and Training — DEC’s training and outreach resources including the free eLearning module on Australia’s export controls framework (via Defence’s LXP platform), past event materials, and upcoming sessions.
• Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2024 — Background and Implementation — Detailed explanation of the 2024 reforms, the AUKUS licence-free environment, national exemptions for AUKUS partners, and commencement on 1 September 2024.

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Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC)

AUSTRAC is Australia’s AML/CTF regulator and financial intelligence unit. While ASO is the sanctions regulator, AUSTRAC supervises reporting entities’ AML/CTF program obligations relating to targeted financial sanctions (TFS), requiring that AML/CTF policies include screening for designated persons and prohibition of dealings with their assets. AUSTRAC also produces national risk assessments covering proliferation financing, terrorism financing, and money laundering that are directly relevant to sanctions compliance. Major reforms to Australia’s AML/CTF regime took effect on 31 March 2026 for current reporting entities, with further obligations for new tranche-two entities (legal, accounting, real estate, jewellers) applying from 1 July 2026.

Legislation and Regulations

• Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 — Primary AML/CTF legislation governing reporting entity obligations, including TFS screening requirements; significantly amended by the AML/CTF Amendment Act 2024.
• Future Law Compilation of the AML/CTF Act (as of 1 July 2026) — AUSTRAC’s unofficial consolidated text of the AML/CTF Act showing how it will read following full commencement of the 2024 reforms; useful for forward planning.
• AML/CTF Rules — Amendments and Updates — Tracking page for amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Rules 2025, including the 2026 amendments to the reporting group framework.

Compliance Guidance — General

• Targeted Financial Sanctions — Obligations for Reporting Entities — AUSTRAC’s guidance on TFS obligations under the AML/CTF Act: screening requirements, what to do when a match is found, and the interplay between AUSTRAC’s role and ASO’s role.
• Targeted Financial Sanctions — Reform Guidance — Updated TFS guidance reflecting the 2024 AML/CTF reforms, covering obligations as they apply from 31 March 2026 for current reporting entities.
• AML/CTF Program Overview — AUSTRAC’s comprehensive guidance on developing, maintaining, and complying with an AML/CTF program, including TFS screening obligations as part of the customer due diligence framework.
• High-Risk Countries, Regions, and Groups — AUSTRAC’s guidance on enhanced due diligence obligations for jurisdictions with elevated ML/TF/PF risk, directly intersecting with Australia’s sanctions programs.

Annual Reports and Statistics

• Risk Assessments — Index — Index of AUSTRAC’s national and sector-based risk assessments covering money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing threats in Australia.
• Proliferation Financing in Australia — National Risk Assessment 2022 — Australia’s first national proliferation financing risk assessment; covers sanctions evasion typologies, sector vulnerabilities, and indicators of suspicious activity relevant to DEC- and ASO-regulated entities.

Background and Policy

• About the AML/CTF Reforms — Overview of the AML/CTF Amendment Act 2024, the new AML/CTF Rules 2025, and the phased commencement timeline for current and new reporting entities.
• Summary of Changes for Current Reporting Entities — Plain-language summary of the reforms impacting entities already regulated by AUSTRAC, including updated TFS screening, tipping off changes, and reporting group restructuring.

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Australian Border Force (ABF)

The Australian Border Force enforces import and export controls at Australia’s border under the Customs Act 1901, including export of controlled goods on the DSGL (in coordination with DEC), prohibition of imports and exports involving sanctioned countries (in coordination with ASO), and interdiction of weapons subject to sanctions. ABF’s Counter Proliferation capability specifically monitors compliance with international sanctions and potential WMD-related export violations. ABF is also an enforcement partner for breaches of Australian sanctions law, with referral authority from ASO.

Trade Sanctions and Export Controls

• Prohibited Goods — Overview — ABF’s top-level guidance on goods that are prohibited or restricted for import or export, including goods subject to sanctions or requiring permits from other agencies.
• Defence and Strategic Goods — ABF’s guidance on the import and export of DSGL goods, including the permit requirement and ABF’s role as the final clearance authority for exports.
• Weapons Subject to Sanctions — ABF’s guidance on the requirement for a sanctions permit to import or export weapons between Australia and sanctioned countries, as a separate requirement from DEC permits.
• Trade and Goods Compliance — ABF’s compliance program for importers, exporters, customs brokers, and freight forwarders, including audit powers and enforcement priorities.

Retrieved: May 2026