Gov proposes reducing defence tech trade barriers

The federal government has put forward proposed bill changes that would see “barriers to technology transfer” across the UK and the US reduce in efforts to support growth, education and research.

On Friday the government opened the floor to consultation on the proposal exposure draft of the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Bill 2023.

It believes the changes would strengthen Australia’s defence export control framework, with the key changes by the proposed exposure draft [pdf] include creating three new criminal offences in the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012.

This includes the supply of Defence and Strategic Goods List (DSGL) technology to a foreign person within Australia.

The DSGL list [pdf] is a collection of military and commercial goods and technologies that Australia regulates, covering goods, software and technologies for military use.

In addition, the changes cover the supply of DSGL goods and technology, that were previously exported or supplied from Australia, from one foreign country to another foreign country, or to a foreign person within the same foreign country and the provision of DSGL services.

The government said it was “committed to enhancing defence trade with likeminded partners, including the UK and US".

“Through the AUKUS partnership, the governments of Australia, the UK and the US are working to reform respective defence export control frameworks to streamline the flow of defence trade between the AUKUS partners," it said.

“These proposed reforms would create an export licence-free environment to support industry, higher education and research sectors in all three countries, including by reducing barriers to technology transfer and costs of trade.”

The changes have been designed to promote partnership between the three countries “and are a critical step in building a seamless industrial base between AUKUS partners.”