National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill 2018

Previous Citations
  • National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill 2017
Type
Government
Portfolio
Attorney-General
Originating house
House of Representatives
Status
Act
Parliament no
45

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Summary

Amends: the Criminal Code Act 1995 to: amend existing, and introduce new, espionage offences relating to a broad range of dealings with information, including solicitation and preparation and planning offences; introduce new offences relating to foreign interference with Australia’s political, governmental or democratic processes; replace the existing sabotage offence with new sabotage offences relating to conduct causing damage to a broad range of critical infrastructure that could prejudice Australia’s national security; introduce a new offence relating to theft of trade secrets on behalf of a foreign government; amend existing, and introduce new, offences relating to treason and other threats to national security, such as interference with Australian democratic or political rights by conduct involving the use of force, violence or intimidation; introduce a new aggravated offence where a person provides false or misleading information relating to an application for, or maintenance of, an Australian Government security clearance; eight Acts to make consequential amendments; the Crimes Act 1914 and Criminal Code Act 1995 to replace certain existing, and introduce new, offences relating to secrecy of information; 20 Acts to make consequential amendments; the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 to amend the definition of a ‘serious offence’ to include the offences provided for by the bill; and the proposed Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2017 to amend the definitions of ‘electoral donations threshold’, ‘general political lobbying’ and ‘political or governmental influence’.

Progress

House of Representatives
Introduced and read a first time 07 Dec 2017
Second reading moved 07 Dec 2017
Second reading debate 26 Jun 2018
Second reading agreed to 26 Jun 2018
Consideration in detail debate
  • Amendment details: 154 Government agreed to
26 Jun 2018
Third reading agreed to 26 Jun 2018
Senate
Introduced and read a first time 27 Jun 2018
Second reading moved 27 Jun 2018
Second reading debate 27 Jun 2018
Second reading debate 28 Jun 2018
Second reading agreed to 28 Jun 2018
Committee of the Whole debate 28 Jun 2018
Third reading debated 28 Jun 2018
Third reading agreed to 28 Jun 2018
Finally passed both Houses 28 Jun 2018
Assent
  • Act no: 67
  • Year: 2018
29 Jun 2018

Documents and transcripts

Text of bill

Explanatory memoranda

Proposed amendments

House of representatives

Senate

Schedules of amendments

No documents at present

Bills digest

Notes

Helpful information

Text of bill

  • First reading: Text of the bill as introduced into the Parliament
  • Third reading: Prepared if the bill is amended by the house in which it was introduced. This version of the bill is then considered by the second house.
  • As passed by both houses: Final text of bill agreed to by both the House of Representatives and the Senate which is presented to the Governor-General for assent.

Explanatory memoranda

  • Explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and provides an explanation of the content of the introduced version (first reading) of the bill.
  • Supplementary explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and explains amendments proposed by the government to the bill.
  • Revised explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and explains the amended version (third reading) of the bill. It supersedes the explanatory memorandum.

Proposed amendments

Circulated by members and senators when they propose to make changes to the bill. For details about the outcome of proposed amendments please refer to either the Votes and Proceedings (House of Representatives) or the Journals (Senate).

Schedules of amendments

Schedules of amendments list amendments agreed to by the second house are communicated to the first house for consideration. Subsequent action by either house may also be included in a schedule.

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