News, speeches and media

Australia is deeply concerned by the escalating violence in Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Lebanon.

These Guiding Principles are intended to prevent the misuse of surveillance technologies by governments and those acting on their behalf in three main areas of concern.

The expression of civil rights and free speech without fear is a cornerstone value that we share. Authoritarian governments are increasingly using cyber means to target these groups, both within their countries and across international borders, including in acts of transnational repression to censor political opposition and track dissidents.

The Declaration of Principles to Combat Transnational Repression calls upon democratic governments to acknowledge and commit to addressing the increasingly prevalent phenomenon of transnational repression, whereby states reach across borders to harm, intimidate, and silence journalists, activists, dissidents, and diaspora communities.

We therefore commit to enhancing beneficial ownership transparency, to make it more difficult for corrupt actors to conceal their identities, assets, and criminal activities through the misuse of opaque corporate structures and legal persons.

Commercial spyware has been misused across the world by authoritarian regimes and in democracies. The misuse of these tools presents significant and growing risks to our national security, including to the safety and security of our government personnel, information, and information systems.

Expressing concern that some state and non-state actors are increasingly misusing surveillance tools and other technologies in ways that can lead to serious violations or abuses of human rights, including acts to censor political opposition and track dissidents, journalists, human rights defenders, other members of civil society, or individuals belonging to vulnerable groups.

The Australian Government welcomes the substantial conclusion of negotiations on the United Kingdom’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

DFAT has undertaken a legislative review of the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011 (Regulations), ahead of their original sunsetting (automatic expiry) on 1 April 2024.