The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) will hold a public hearing with the Attorney-General’s Department and the Department of Home Affairs on Thursday for its review of the Criminal Code Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Bill 2025 (the Bill).

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 15 October 2025

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) will hold a public hearing with the Attorney-General’s Department and the Department of Home Affairs on Thursday for its review of the Criminal Code Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Bill 2025 (the Bill). The Bill would amend Schedule 1 to the Criminal Code Act 1995 (the Criminal Code) to allow the Commonwealth to list foreign state entities that have engaged in a state terrorist act, or otherwise supported or advocated terrorist acts targeted at Australia. The Bill would enable the Governor-General to make regulations listing foreign state entities as state sponsors of terrorism on the advice of the Minister for Home Affairs, with agreement from the Foreign Affairs Minister. The Bill would 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. The PJCIS Chair, Senator Raff Ciccone, said “It is important that there is a mechanism to list state sponsors of terrorism targeting Australia and an ability to hold such entities and their members to account via the criminal law. “The Committee is seeking to discuss with Government witnesses how the Bill will operate in practice, including oversight and accountability via the PJCIS.” Public Hearing Details Thursday, 16 October 2025 4:00PM – 6:00PM (AEDT) Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra A program for the hearing can be found here and the hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the Committee’s website. Media inquiries Office of Senator Raff Ciccone, Chair of the PJCIS Contact: Giulio Di Giorgio 0422 622 760 Giulio.digiorgio@aph.gov.au For background information Committee Secretariat, Parliamentary Joint Committee on intelligence and Security (02) 6277 2360 pjcis@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

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’).

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 8 October 2025

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 proposes amendments to the Criminal Code to allow the Australian Government to list foreign state entities that have engaged in a state terrorist act, or otherwise supported or advocated terrorist acts targeting Australia. The Bill proposes to: establish a new legislative framework enablling 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 by these entities, as well as by individuals or organisations who would seek to assist or support their activities; provide for appropriate defences, such as for persons required by law to engage with a listed entity or who engage for legitimate purpose; and make consequential amendments to other Commonwealth Acts to extend relevant law enforcement powers and other policy tools to the new provisions relating to state sponsored terrorism The Committee has invited submissions by 24 October 2025. Committee Chair Senator Raff Ciccone, said: “State sponsored terrorism is an increasing threat to Australia. I welcome the Australian Government’s efforts to address this threat through legislation. The Committee will review this important Bill to ensure it is effective and proportionate in strengthening Australia’s national security framework.” Further details on the review, including submission guidelines and deadlines, are available on the Committee’s website: aph.gov.au/pjcis Media enquiries Office of Senator Raff Ciccone, Chair of the PJCIS Contact: Giulio Di Giorgio 0422 622 760 giulio.digiorgio@aph.gov.au Background information Committee Secretariat, Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security 02 6277 2360 pjcis@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.