An exposure draft of the Defence Trade Controls Regulation 2013 is
now available for public consultation. The draft Regulation is available
for comment until March 4, 2013.
The Defence Trade Controls Act 2012 was passed by Parliament October 31, 2012 and received Royal
Assent November 13, 2012.
The Regulation was previously released for consultation in late
2011 but has been redrafted to reflect amendments to the Act and comments
received during previous consultations.
In particular, provisions relating to record-keeping and
Australian community member employee requirements have been simplified.
The Act implements the Australia-US Defence Trade Cooperation
Treaty.
The Treaty will create a framework for trade between Australia
and the United States in certain defence articles, technologies and services
without the need for individual US or Australian export licences.
The Act also strengthens Australia’s existing export control
measures by regulating the intangible supply of technology relating to defence
and strategic goods, and regulating the brokering of defence and strategic
goods and technology.
These measures eliminate identified gaps in Australia’s export
control system, align Australia with the accepted international best practice
and contribute to international efforts to prevent proliferation of sensitive
technology.
A Strengthened Export Controls Steering Group has been appointed
by the Minister for Defence to advise on implementation of the strengthened
export controls provisions of this new legislation.
Over a two-year implementation period, this Steering Group will
test the strengthened export controls through a program of pilot studies, and
will recommend any necessary amendments to the legislation.
Interested sectors and the public can access and make comment on
the draft Regulation and the draft Explanatory Statement on the Defence Export
Control Office (DECO) website: www.defence.gov.au/deco
In particular, provisions relating to record-keeping and Australian community member employee requirements have been simplified.
