What happens if we don't comply with sanctions?

Contravening a sanctions measure or a condition of a sanctions permit is a serious offence

• Punishable for individuals by up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine the greater of greater of 2500 penalty units ($525,000 as of 26 August 2019) or three times the value of the transaction.
• Punishable for bodies corporate by a fine the greater of 10,000 penalty units ($2.1 million as of 26 August 2019) or three times the value of the transaction.
• The offences are strict liability offences for bodies corporate, meaning that it is not necessary to prove any fault element (intent, knowledge, recklessness or negligence) for a body corporate to be found guilty.

(Charter of the United Nations Act 1945, section 27.  Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011, section 16.)

As of 26 August 2019, the value of a penalty unit is $210, prescribed by the Crimes Amendment (Penalty Unit) Act 2017.

Giving false or misleading information in connection with the administration of a sanction law is also a serious offence

• A sanctions permit is taken never to have been granted if false or misleading information was contained in the application for the permit.
• Punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of 2500 penalty units ($525,000 as of 26 August 2019).

(Charter of the United Nations Act 1945, sections 13A, 28.  Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011, sections 15, 17.)

These offences apply broadly

• To any activity in Australia.
• To any Australian citizen anywhere in the world.
• To any person using an Australian flagged vessel or aircrafts (Various sets of regulations made under the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945 and Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011)