Australian autonomous sanctions
What measures are imposed as autonomous sanctions?
Examples of autonomous sanctions include:
- targeted financial sanctions: implemented through directions issued by the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia under the Banking (Foreign Exchange) Regulations 1959. The directions prohibit international funds transfers and other transactions involving foreign currency individuals and entities named in the direction, without the specific pre-approval of the RBA. Autonomous targeted financial sanctions do not amount to a freeze on all the assets of, or a prohibition on making any assets available to, sanctions designated individuals and entities, as is the case with UNSC targeted financial sanctions;
- travel restrictions: implemented through determinations by the Minister for Foreign Affairs made under the Migration Regulations 1994 that the presence in Australia of a particular visa applicant (Public Interest Criterion (PIC) 4003(a)) or a particular visa holder (regulation 2.43) is or would be contrary to Australia’s foreign policy interests. Such a determination will result in the Minister for Immigration denying the issue of a new visa, or the cancellation of an existing visa;
- restrictions on public-provided financial assistance for trade or investment with a sanctioned country: implemented through directions issued by the Minister for Trade under section 9 of the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Act 1991, or a declaration under section 44 of the Export Market Development Grants Act 1997;
- embargoes on the supply of military or strategic (WMD dual use) goods: implemented under regulation 13E of the Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958;
- suspension of non-humanitarian development assistance;
- suspension of Government-to-Government links.