The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (the Committee) has commenced a review of the Defence Amendment (Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets) Bill 2023.

The Defence Amendment (Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets) Bill 2023 (the Bill) amends the Defence Act 1903, through the insertion of a new Part IXAA which regulates the work that certain former defence staff members - called foreign work restricted individuals - can perform for or on behalf of a military organisation or government body of a relevant foreign country, without a foreign work authorisation. The Bill also regulates the training that Australian citizens and permanent residents may provide to relevant foreign militaries or governments without a foreign work authorisation.

The Minister has the power to grant foreign work authorisations and to refuse, cancel, suspend or vary them.

‘Relevant foreign countries’ are any countries not excluded by the Minister in a legislative instrument.

Submissions are invited by Thursday, 16 November 2023. Further information about making a submission to a parliamentary committee is available here.