International relations

In 2011, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) imposed sanctions in relation to Libya in response to the violence and use of armed force against civilians in Libya and the systemic violations of human rights by the former Qadhafi regime. Several subsequent UNSC resolutions have amended and renewed the sanctions. Australia implements the UNSC sanctions concerning Libya by incorporating them into Australian law.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) initially imposed sanctions in relation to Lebanon in 2005 in response to the terrorist bombing in Beirut in February 2005 that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and 22 others. The UNSC imposed additional sanctions measures in 2006 in response to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in July 2006.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has imposed sanctions in relation to Iraq. The sanctions were initially imposed in 1990 in response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Although the UNSC has removed several sanctions measures that were imposed during the Saddam Hussein era, there are still some sanctions in place in relation to Iraq.

In 2015, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted UNSC Resolution 2231 endorsing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). This allowed the UNSC to have oversight of Iran's nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief as long as certain conditions (such as access for the International Atomic Energy Agency) were met. The resolution also contained a mechanism through which the suspended sanctions against Iran could be 'snapped back' into effect if Iran failed to comply with its obligations.

In 2012, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) imposed sanctions in relation to Guinea-Bissau in response to the military seizing power. Australia implements the UNSC sanctions concerning Guinea-Bissau by incorporating them into Australian law.

Australia imposes autonomous sanctions in relation to the Former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FFRY) which target persons associated with the former Milosevic regime, and persons indicted for or suspected of committing war crimes during the Balkan wars in the early 1990s. Sanctions have been in place since 1992.

In 2006, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted a resolution imposing sanctions in relation to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in response to the DPRK’s nuclear test on 9 October 2006. The sanctions framework has been amended and extended by subsequent UNSC resolutions, in response to further DPRK nuclear and missiles tests.