Australia Passes Defense Trade Legislation

Australia’s Parliament on March 27 passed the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act and Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets Act, two key pieces of legislation that are expected to better harmonize its defense trade regulations with the U.S. and the U.K. as part of the AUKUS partnership. The laws will help in “streamlining trade and collaboration with our AUKUS partners,” eliminate red tape on defense trade with both countries and bolster enforcement of illegal defense trade and information sharing, the country’s defense agency said.

The Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act would specifically establish an “export license-free environment” for certain defense and technology trade with the U.S. and the U.K., Australia said, adding that this would “benefit” billions of dollars worth of Australian defense exports. It will give the country’s defense, science and research industries “greater opportunities for collaboration and trade with our AUKUS partners without the burdensome red tape,” Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said.

The two bills are expected to help Australia qualify for expedited defense trade with the U.S. as part of a provision included in the 2024 defense spending bill. Under that provision, the State Department must certify that Australia, along with the U.K., have export control regimes “comparable” to that of the U.S. (see 2309270007 and 2307140019).