The ACF developed and submitted recommendations to the Australian Parliament on how to improve the country’s sanctions legislation. The Parliament requested such proposals as part of its own research.
Australia plays a crucial role in international politics as a major nation defending the values of the free world and as a member of the Commonwealth. The sanctions Australia imposes often pave the way for similar measures in other countries, like the United Kingdom and Canada.
In our recommendations to Australia, we focused on the aspect of sanctions we know best—targeted sanctions against enablers of corrupt authoritarian regimes, such as Vladimir Putin’s regime. The nature of authoritarianism is strikingly similar worldwide, and the methods of combating it are universally applicable.
We propose that sanctions be imposed on individuals based on their roles within these regimes. Taking on a position within a regime should automatically trigger sanctions. If you choose to work for such a regime, you need to know that this decision will close off much of the world—and access to your ill-gotten gains. This approach sends a clear message to anyone considering working for these regimes: you are complicit in crimes, and the consequences are inevitable. At the same time, this method simplifies the enforcement and management of sanctions.
We also recommend imposing sanctions for "serious corruption" (a term already used in Australian law) against oligarchs and elites within authoritarian regimes. Corruption is the foundation and a key tool for solidifying these regimes. In such systems, corruption is a reward for loyalty among the elites. Sanctions against corrupt individuals, therefore, strike at the heart of these regimes. After all, corrupt wealth loses its luster when it can’t be moved to places where the rule of law protects property and guarantees human rights.
Finally, we propose requiring sanctioned individuals to declare their assets. Those who comply would face the current consequences: their funds and property would be frozen until the sanctions are lifted. However, those who hide their assets could face fines equal to the value of the concealed property, effectively leading to asset confiscation. This would make hiding assets less appealing, reduce disputes over ownership, and create strong incentives to uncover hidden assets.
We hope that if our proposals are adopted, they will help exert more effective pressure on authoritarian regimes around the world.