Australia has removed the requirement for the local defense industry to secure export licenses for delivering technology and information to the United Kingdom and the United States.
The Australian Parliament on Wednesday passed the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2024, which amends the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012, to reduce technology transfer, collaboration, research and innovation barriers in support of the AUKUS trilateral security partnership for the Indo-Pacific region.
While the law loosens export restrictions for AUKUS partners, it introduces three new criminal offenses for supplying goods, technologies and services included in the Defence and Strategic Goods List to other non-U.S. or U.K. countries and exempt foreign nationals within and outside Australia. The legislation’s passage marks the first time Canberra requires a permit for in-country transfers to foreign persons, according to a report from Bird & Bird.
The DTC Act will come into force once it receives royal assent. With the export control reform approved, the U.S. and the U.K. are expected to implement similar changes to their information and technology transfer restrictions. The Bird & Bird report noted that the two countries are considering reciprocal legislative amendments.
“The Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act provides defense industry, science and research sectors with greater opportunities for collaboration and trade with our AUKUS partners without the burdensome red tape,” Australian Minister for Defence and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said in a press release announcing the landmark legislation.
“This will benefit defense industry in Australia, unlocking AUD 5 billion – more than half of our annual exports – to our AUKUS partners.”
