Summary

Amends: the Criminal Code Act 1995 to: amend existing, and introduce new, espionage offences relating to a broad range of dealings with information, including solicitation and preparation and planning offences; introduce new offences relating to foreign interference with Australia’s political, governmental or democratic processes; replace the existing sabotage offence with new sabotage offences relating to conduct causing damage to a broad range of critical infrastructure that could prejudice Australia’s national security; introduce a new offence relating to theft of trade secrets on behalf of a foreign government; amend existing, and introduce new, offences relating to treason and other threats to national security, such as interference with Australian democratic or political rights by conduct involving the use of force, violence or intimidation; introduce a new aggravated offence where a person provides false or misleading information relating to an application for, or maintenance of, an Australian Government security clearance; eight Acts to make consequential amendments; the Crimes Act 1914 and Criminal Code Act 1995 to replace certain existing, and introduce new, offences relating to secrecy of information; 20 Acts to make consequential amendments; the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 to amend the definition of a ‘serious offence’ to include the offences provided for by the bill; and the proposed Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2017 to amend the definitions of ‘electoral donations threshold’, ‘general political lobbying’ and ‘political or governmental influence’.