The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review of the Criminal Code Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Bill 2025 (the Bill).

The Bill would

• create a new legislative framework that would enable the Governor-General to list foreign state entities as state sponsors of terrorism on the advice of the Australian Federal Police Minister, with agreement from the Foreign Affairs Minister
• create new offences which would criminalise conduct engaged in by these entities, as well as conduct engaged in by persons who would seek to assist or support these activities
• provide for appropriate defences, for example for persons who are required by law to engage with a listed entity or engage with an entity for a legitimate purpose
• make amendments to various other Commonwealth Acts to apply the law enforcement powers and other policy tools that are available in response to, or targeted at the prevention of, terrorist acts to the new provisions concerning state sponsored terrorism.

The Committee invites written submissions to the inquiry by 24 October 2025. Further information about making a submission to a parliamentary committee is available here.