Overview
The Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011 sets out the framework for the Australian Government's autonomous sanctions regime. It enables the government to impose targeted financial measures, travel bans, and other forms of penal actions on persons or entities, for reasons relating to Australia's foreign policy interests, including human rights, threats to international peace, and security. The Act includes provisions on the making and enforcement of regulations, penalties for breaches including contravening a sanction law or providing false information, and powers to request, retain, and use documents and information related to sanctions. It also explicitly allows regulations to have extraterritorial effects and ensures they take precedence over other laws.