Committee: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee
Date referred: 5 November 2025
Reporting date: 20 March 2026

On the 5 November 2025 the Senate referred Sanctions against the Russian Federation for inquiry and report by 20 March 2026.

Terms of Reference 

1. the scope of sanctions imposed by the Commonwealth against the Russian Federation since February 2022, including but not limited to:
   1. curtailing the importation into Australia of fuels derived from Russian crude oil, 
   2. identifying, seizing, freezing and liquidating Russian financial assets, including Russian central bank assets in Australia, and 
   3. personalised restrictions against specific individuals and organisations; 
2. the intended effects of sanctions imposed; 
3. the effectiveness of Australia’s sanctions, including in comparison to overseas measures; 
4. the extent of efforts by Russia and other affected entities to evade Australian sanctions; 
5. the extent of Russian retaliation and other responses to Australia’s sanctions; 
6. the attitudes and responses towards Australia’s sanctions regime from Ukraine, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, European Union and other partners in the Coalition of the Willing; and 
7. any other related matters.