Up to 25 Years Jail for State Terrorism and New Powers to Name State Sponsors of Terrorism
Criminal Code Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Bill 2025
House of Representatives
Senate
Assent
Topics
criminal justice criminal penalties foreign interference law enforcement national security public safety state sponsorship of terrorism terrorism terrorist financing
Introduced by: The Hon Michelle Rowland MP (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Michelle Rowland ALP
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Albanese government’s top priority is to keep our community safe from those who seek to do us harm. On 26 August, the Prime Minister delivered a sobering announcement that Australia is not immune from the actions of malicious foreign actors who seek to undermine our safety, security and social cohesion through state sponsored terrorism.”
Andrew Wallace LNP
“The ability to list certain organisations as terrorist organisations, as provided for by division 102 of the Criminal Code, provides the Australian government with a valuable tool for publicly condemning those organisations as well as putting the public on notice that certain dealings with those organisations are criminal offences.”
Anthony Chisholm ALP
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as follows— The Albanese Government’s top priority is to keep our community safe from those who seek to do us harm.”
Claire Chandler LIB
“I rise today to speak in support of the Criminal Code Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Bill 2025. This is a long overdue and critically important measure that closes a dangerous gap in our national security framework.”
Raff Ciccone ALP
“I just want to make some brief remarks about the Criminal Code Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Bill 2025 before the Senate today, in which we look at establishing a new framework for designating a foreign entity as a state sponsor of terrorism.”
“One Nation has called out foreign governments and their agents who act against Australian citizens and even against our country right here in Australia. These include China, some Islamic nations and some members of the former Soviet Union.”
Nita Green ALP
“I want to thank my parliamentary colleagues for their contributions to the debate on the Criminal Code Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Bill 2025 and to the committee process. Keeping our community safe from those who seek to do us harm is a top priority for the Albanese government.”
David Shoebridge GRN
“by leave—At the request of Senator Thorpe, I move the second reading amendment standing in her name: At the end of the motion, add ”, but the Senate: (a) notes that: (i) far-right extremism now poses one of the greatest threats to community safety in this country, with a rising number of violent attacks explicitly targeting First Peoples, migrants and refugees over the past year; (ii) on 31 August…”