Australian Sanction Office - News

In accordance with section 15 and 15(A) of the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945 (COTUNA), the Minister for Foreign Affairs (the Minister) has relisted 15 persons and two entities by legislative instrument (Charter of the United Nations (Listed Persons and Entities) Amendment (No. 4) Instrument 2026. Counter-terrorism financial sanctions listings automatically expire and must be reconsidered on the third anniversary of the date they were last made. 

The Australian Sanctions Office (ASO) invites financial and non-profit sector stakeholders to attend its upcoming virtual webinar designed to support your understanding of Australian sanctions laws and emerging legislative reforms.

The  session forms part of the ASO's broader outreach program aim to promote sanctions awareness and compliance, and increase engagement with Australia's regulated community.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs (the Minister) has, by legislative instrument, designated persons and entities for targeted financial sanctions, declared persons for travel bans, and designated vessels as sanctioned vessels for Russia (together, "listed"), under item 6A of regulation 6 (the Russia Criteria) and regulation 8 (the vessels criteria) of the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011 (the Regulations).

In accordance with section 15 of the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945, the Minister for Foreign Affairs has re-listed one person by legislative instrument (Charter of the United Nations (Listed Persons and Entities) Amendment (No.3) Instrument 2026. 

The Australian Government is progressing reforms to Australia’s sanctions framework.

Public consultation on an exposure draft of the primary bill underpinning these reforms commenced on Monday 7 September 2026 and has been extended to six weeks, closing on Friday 16 October 2026.

During this period, stakeholders can provide feedback on the proposed reforms through written submissions and ask questions via town hall information sessions.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) GIVES NOTICE TO THE PERSONS AND ENTITIES NAMED BELOW that the Minister will be considering whether their listings under section 15 of the Act will continue to have effect.

The Australian Sanction Office (ASO) has published its annual report for the 2025 calendar year. This is the ASO’s first annual report. The report includes an overview of significant listings and a summary of autonomous sanctions listings from 2025. 

The ASO has undertaken to report annually to reflect regulator best practice.

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued the following statement on fraudulent North Korean (DPRK) IT workers.

Australia's sanctions frameworks equip the Australian Government to respond flexibly and effectively to situations of international concern. Sanctions are one of the tools available to the Government to impose costs on foreign actors that behave contrary to Australian values and national interests.

In accordance with section 15 of the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945 (COTUNA), the Minister for Foreign Affairs (the Minister) has listed three persons by legislative instrument (Charter of the United Nations (Listed Persons and Entities) Amendment (No. 2) Instrument 2026.