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Defence Trade Controls

Australia’s export control system aims to stop goods and technology that can be used in chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, or military goods and technologies, from being transferred to individuals, states or groups of proliferation concern. As a member of international export control regimes, Australia is part of a global effort to regulate the export of items listed by these regimes, which have military or WMD applications.

Australia regulates the physical export of military and dual‐use items listed by the international regimes, under Regulation 13E of the Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958. In order to strengthen Australia’s export controls, the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012 (DTC Act) put in place new measures to control the intangible supply of defence and strategic goods list technologies.

The DTC Act regulates three main activities:

  • The intangible supply (transmission by non‐physical means) of controlled technology from a person in Australia to a person outside Australia;
  • Publishing controlled military technology; and
  • Brokering controlled military goods and technology

More information about Defence Trade Controls is available from the Defence Export Control Office (DECO) at the Department of Defence.

University Compliance

All ECU researchers (staff and students) must complete the International Compliance Review - Foreign Engagements form for research activities that may involve the export (physical and intangible) of technology listed on the Defence and Strategic Goods list (DSGL). It is the responsibility of the researcher (staff) or in the case of students, the supervisor of the student researcher to complete the Form and send the Form to Legal and Integrity at integrity@ecu.edu.au for advice on any further action that may be required.

Importance of Compliance

Compliance with Australian export control laws is very important as the legislation establishes serious criminal offences for contravening export control measures. These penalties for breaches include a fine not exceeding AUD 425,000 or imprisonment for 10 years, or both.

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