iscover
The Australian government has passed legislation to strengthen Australia’s counter‑terrorism framework and better respond to threats posed by state-sponsored terrorism.
The Criminal Code Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Act 2025 creates a new framework in the Criminal Code Act 1995 to allow foreign state entities to be listed as state sponsors of terrorism where they have engaged in, or otherwise supported or advocated for, the doing of terrorist acts targeted at Australia.
It’s expected to help ensure that foreign states that seek to fuel division, create fear and erode social cohesion in the Australian community will be held to account.
The legislation also establishes a comprehensive suite of criminal offences, directly targeting state sponsors of terrorism, their proxies, and those who would seek to support these entities and their activities.
“The first priority of our government is the safety and protection of all Australians, which is why we have acted decisively in passing this vital legislation through the Parliament,” according to Attorney-General Michelle Rowland.
“This legislation is a warning that foreign states and their supporters who seek to fuel division, create fear, erode social cohesion and perpetrate violence in the Australian community will be held to account.
“These changes will make it more difficult, more risky and more costly for malicious foreign actors to seek to cause Australia and our community harm.”
Importantly, the legislation ensures that law enforcement and intelligence agencies have the powers required to combat threats and attacks of this nature.
Parliament’s support for this legislation is a testimony to the condemnation of hatred, violence and division targeting our community, and a clear demonstration that any attack against Australia will not be tolerated.
