Part 1—Preliminary
1 Name of Regulations
These Regulations are the Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions—Iraq) Regulations 2008.
4 Definitions
Note: A number of expressions used in these Regulations are defined in the Act, including asset.
In these Regulations:
Act means the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945.
arms or related matériel includes:
(a) weapons; and
(b) ammunition; and
(c) military vehicles and equipment; and
(d) spare parts and accessories for the things mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c); and
(e) paramilitary equipment.
Arts Department means the Department administered by the Minister administering the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986.
Australian aircraft has the same meaning as in the Criminal Code.
Australian ship has the same meaning as in the Criminal Code.
Committee means the committee established under paragraph 1 of Resolution 1518.
controlled asset means the following assets:
(a) an asset of the previous government of Iraq that was located in Australia on 22 May 2003;
(b) an asset that has been removed from Iraq, or acquired, by a designated person or entity.
designated person or entity means a person or entity that the Committee or the Security Council:
(a) designates for the purposes of paragraph 19 of Resolution 1483; or
(b) decides is subject to the asset freeze measures relating to Iraq.
Note: A list of designated persons and entities could in 2026 be viewed on the United Nations’ website (https://www.un.org).
Development Fund for Iraq means the Development Fund for Iraq referred to in paragraph 12 of Resolution 1483.
export sanctioned goods has the meaning given by regulation 5.
illegally removed cultural property means an item of:
(a) Iraqi cultural property; or
(b) archaeological, historical, cultural, rare scientific, or religious, importance;
that has been illegally removed from Iraq on or after 6 August 1990.
multinational force means the multinational force described in Resolution 1511.
paramilitary equipment means any of the following:
(a) batons, clubs, riot sticks and similar devices of a kind used for law enforcement purposes;
(b) body armour, including:
(i) bullet‑resistant apparel; and
(ii) bullet‑resistant pads; and
(iii) protective helmets;
(c) handcuffs, leg irons and other devices used for restraining prisoners;
(d) riot protection shields;
(e) whips;
(f) parts and accessories designed or adapted for use in, or with, equipment mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e).
previous government of Iraq means:
(a) the government or governments of Iraq led by former President Saddam Hussein; and
(b) a state body, corporation or other body or agency in relation to that government.
Resolution 1483 means Resolution 1483 (2003) of the Security Council, adopted on 22 May 2003.
Resolution 1511 means Resolution 1511 (2003) of the Security Council, adopted on 16 October 2003.
Resolution 1518 means Resolution 1518 (2003) of the Security Council, adopted on 24 November 2003.
Resolution 1546 means Resolution 1546 (2004) of the Security Council, adopted on 8 June 2004.
sanctioned supply has the meaning given in regulation 6.
Security Council means the United Nations Security Council.
Security Council resolution means a resolution adopted by the Security Council.
5 Export sanctioned goods
For these Regulations, export sanctioned goods means arms or related matériel.
6 Sanctioned supply
A person makes a sanctioned supply if:
(a) the person supplies, sells or transfers goods to another person; and
(b) the goods are export sanctioned goods; and
(c) as a direct or indirect result of the supply, sale or transfer the goods are transferred to Iraq.
Part 2—UN sanction enforcement laws
7 Prohibitions relating to a sanctioned supply
(1) A person contravenes this regulation if:
(a) the person makes a sanctioned supply; and
(b) the sanctioned supply is not an authorised supply.
(2) Section 15.1 of the Criminal Code applies to an offence under section 27 of the Act that relates to a contravention of subregulation (1).
Note: This has the effect that the offence has extraterritorial operation.
(3) A person, whether or not in Australia, and whether or not an Australian citizen, contravenes this regulation if the person uses the services of an Australian ship or an Australian aircraft to transport export sanctioned goods in the course of, or for the purpose of, making a sanctioned supply that is not an authorised supply.
(4) A body corporate contravenes this regulation if:
(a) the body corporate has effective control over the actions of another body corporate or entity, wherever incorporated or situated; and
(b) the other body corporate or entity makes a sanctioned supply; and
(c) the sanctioned supply is not an authorised supply.
(5) For this regulation:
authorised supply means a sanctioned supply that is authorised by:
(a) a permit under regulation 8; or
(b) if the supply, sale or transfer takes place in or from a foreign country—a permit:
(i) granted by the foreign country; and
(ii) properly granted by the foreign country; and
(iii) granted in a way that accords with the foreign country’s obligations under Security Council resolutions relating to Iraq, as existing from time to time.
(6) A defendant, to a charge under section 27 of the Act that relates to subregulation (1), (3) or (4), bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subparagraph (b)(i) of the definition of authorised supply in subregulation (5).
(7) For paragraph (b) of the definition of authorised supply in subregulation (5), a permit is taken not to have been properly granted if the prosecution shows that the permit was granted on the basis of false or misleading information provided by any person, or of corrupt conduct by any person.
Note: This regulation is a UN sanction enforcement law as specified by the Minister under the Charter of the United Nations (UN Sanction Enforcement Law) Declaration 2008.
8 Permit to make a sanctioned supply
(1) The Minister may, on application, grant a person a permit authorising the making of a sanctioned supply.
Note: Section 13A of the Act applies to a permit granted by the Minister under this subregulation.
(2) The Minister may grant a permit only if the sanctioned supply is required by the Government of Iraq or the multinational force to serve the purposes of Resolution 1546.
(3) A permit is subject to any conditions specified in the permit.
9 Return of illegally removed cultural property of Iraq
(1) A person who suspects that an item in the possession or control of a person is illegally removed cultural property must, as soon as practicable, notify any of the following:
(a) the Secretary of the Department;
(b) the Secretary of the Arts Department;
(c) a member of the Australian Federal Police or of the police force of a State or Territory.
(2) If the Secretary of the Department reasonably believes that a person has possession or control of an item that might be illegally removed cultural property, the Secretary may, by written notice to the person, direct the person to comply with arrangements specified by the Secretary for storage of the item.
Note: If notified about an item under subregulation (1), the Departments and police will work together to determine whether the item is illegally removed cultural property. If satisfied it is, the Department will arrange for its eventual safe return to an appropriate institution in Iraq.
(3) A person commits an offence of strict liability if:
(a) the person is directed under subregulation (2) to comply with specified arrangements; and
(b) the person fails to comply with the arrangements.
Penalty: 50 penalty units.
(4) If the Secretary cannot satisfy himself or herself that an item for which arrangements are specified under subregulation (2) is an item of illegally removed cultural property, the Secretary must terminate the arrangements.
10 Dealing with illegally removed cultural property of Iraq
(1) A person contravenes this regulation if the person does any of the following otherwise than in accordance with a direction under subregulation 9(2):
(a) gives illegally removed cultural property to another person;
(b) trades in illegally removed cultural property;
(c) transfers the title of illegally removed cultural property.
(2) Section 15.1 of the Criminal Code (extended geographical jurisdiction—category A) applies to an offence under section 27 of the Act that relates to a contravention of subregulation (1).
(3) A body corporate contravenes this regulation if:
(a) the body corporate has effective control over another body corporate or entity (wherever incorporated or situated); and
(b) the other body corporate or entity contravenes subregulation (1).
11 Certain controlled assets must be transferred to Development Fund for Iraq
(1) A person who holds a controlled asset that is not subject to a judicial, administrative or arbitral lien or judgement must, as soon as practicable, inform:
(a) the Secretary of the Department; or
(b) the Australian Federal Police, or a police force of a State or Territory.
(2) If the Department confirms that the person holds a controlled asset the person must comply with any reasonable arrangements specified by the Department for the transfer of the controlled asset to the Development Fund for Iraq.
Note 1: Claims made by individuals or non‑government entities on controlled assets transferred to the Development Fund for Iraq may be presented to the Government of Iraq.
Note 2: Controlled assets enjoy the same privileges, immunities and protections as provided under paragraph 22 of Resolution 1483.
12 Prohibition relating to controlled assets
(1) A person contravenes this regulation if:
(a) the person holds a controlled asset ; and
(b) the person, otherwise than in accordance with arrangements under regulation 11:
(i) uses or deals with the asset; or
(ii) allows the asset to be used or dealt with; or
(iii) facilitates the use of, or the dealing with, the asset.
(2) Section 15.1 of the Criminal Code applies to an offence under section 27 of the Act that relates to a contravention of subregulation (1).
Note 1: Subregulation (2) has the effect that the offence has extraterritorial operation.
Note 2: This regulation is a UN sanction enforcement law as specified by the Minister under the Charter of the United Nations (UN Sanction Enforcement Law) Declaration 2008.
12A Compensation for acquisition of property
(1) If the operation of this Part would result in an acquisition of property (within the meaning of paragraph 51(xxxi) of the Constitution) from a person otherwise than on just terms (within the meaning of that paragraph), the Commonwealth is liable to pay a reasonable amount of compensation to the person.
(2) If the Commonwealth and the person do not agree on the amount of the compensation, the person may institute proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia for the recovery from the Commonwealth of such reasonable amount of compensation as the court determines.
Part 3—Miscellaneous
13 Delegations by Minister
(1) The Minister may delegate the Minister’s powers and functions under these Regulations (other than this power of delegation) to:
(a) the Secretary of the Department; or
(b) an SES employee, or acting SES employee, in the Department.
(2) The delegation must be in writing.
(3) The delegate must comply with any directions of the Minister in exercising powers or functions under the delegation.
Part 4—Application and transitional provisions
14 Saving provision for amendments made by the Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions—Iraq) Amendment Regulation 2015
The amendments made by the Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions—Iraq) Amendment Regulation 2015 do not affect a person’s duty to comply with an arrangement specified by the Department for the purposes of subregulation 9(2) before the commencement of that instrument.
