Australian Sanctions Office

Regulator function

The Australian Sanctions Office (ASO) is the Australian Government’s sanctions regulator. As the sanctions regulator, ASO: 

  • provides guidance to regulated entities, including government agencies, individuals, business and other organisations on Australian sanctions law; 
  • processes applications for, and issues, sanctions permits; 
  • works with individuals, business and other organisations to promote compliance and help prevent breaches of the law; 
  • works in partnership with other government agencies to monitor compliance with sanctions legislation; and 
  • supports corrective and enforcement action by law enforcement agencies in cases of suspected non-compliance. 

Legislation

United Nations Security Counsel:

  • Charter of the United Nations Act 1945 
  • Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Central African Republic) Regulation 2014 
  • Charter of the United Nations (Dealing with Assets) Regulations 2008 
  • Migration (United Nations Security Council Resolutions) Regulations 2007 
  • Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Democratic Republic of the Congo) Regulations 2008 
  • Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) Regulations 2008 
  • Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) (Luxury Goods) Instrument 2017 
  • Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Iran) Regulation 2016 
  • Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Iran) (Export Sanctioned Goods) List Determination 2016 
  • Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Iraq) Regulations 2008 
  • Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Al-Qaida) Regulations 2008 
  • Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Lebanon) Regulations 2008 
  • Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Libya) Regulations 2011 
  • Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Mali) Regulations 2018 
  • Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions — Somalia) Regulations 2008 
  • Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Sudan) Regulations 2008 
  • Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – South Sudan) Regulations 2015 
  • Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – The Taliban) Regulation 2013 
  • Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Yemen) Regulation 2014 

Autonomous: 

  • Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011 
  • Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011 
  • Autonomous Sanctions (Sanctioned Vessels – Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) Designation 2015 
  • Autonomous Sanctions (Classes of Sanctioned Vessels – Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) Designation 2017 
  • Autonomous Sanctions (Designated Persons and Entities – Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) List 2012 
  • Autonomous Sanctions (Designated and Declared Persons – Former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) List 2012 
  • Autonomous Sanctions (Export and Import Sanctioned Goods – Iran) Amendment Specification 2016 
  • Autonomous Sanctions (Designated Persons and Entities and Declared Persons – Iran) List 2012 
  • Autonomous Sanctions (Designated Persons and Entities and Declared Persons – Libya) List 2012 
  • Autonomous Sanctions (Designated and Declared Persons – Myanmar) List 2018 
  • Autonomous Sanctions (Russia, Crimea and Sevastopol) Specification 2015 
  • Autonomous Sanctions (Designated Persons and Entities and Declared Persons – Russia and Ukraine) List 2014 
  • Autonomous Sanctions (Import Sanctioned Goods—Russia) Designation 2022 
  • Autonomous Sanctions (Export Sanctioned Goods—Russia) Designation 2022 
  • Autonomous Sanctions (Designated Persons and Entities and Declared Persons – Thematic Sanctions) Instrument 2022 
  • Autonomous Sanctions (Export Sanctioned Goods — Syria) Specification 2012 
  • Autonomous Sanctions (Import Sanctioned Goods — Syria) Specification 2012 
  • Autonomous Sanctions (Export Sanctioned Goods — Syria) Designation 2012 
  • Autonomous Sanctions (Designated and Declared Persons — Syria) List 2012 
  • Autonomous Sanctions (Designated Persons and Entities and Declared Persons — Syria) List 2017 
  • Autonomous Sanctions (Designated and Declared Persons – Ukraine) List 2014 
  • Autonomous Sanctions (Designated and Declared Persons – Zimbabwe) List 2012 

Regulated community

Activities in Australia. Activities undertaken overseas by Australian citizens and Australian-registered bodies corporate. Sanctions offences apply extraterritorially in the following situations:  

  • the offending conduct occurs wholly or partly in Australia or on board an Australian aircraft or Australian ship; or 
  • the offending conduct occurs wholly outside Australia and the result of the conduct occurs wholly or partly in Australia or on board an Australian aircraft or ship; or 
  • the offending conduct occurs wholly outside Australia and at the time of the offence the person is an Australian citizen (residency will not suffice) or a body corporate incorporated under the law of the Cth or State or Territory; or 
  • the alleged offence is an ancillary offence, and the conduct constituting the ancillary offence occurs wholly outside Australia, and the conduct constituting the primary offence to which the ancillary offence relates, or a result of that conduct, occurs, or is intended by the person to occur, wholly or partly in Australia or on board an Australian aircraft or ship. 

Portfolio

Foreign Affairs and Trade

Internal to department / external entity

Internal