Criminal Code Amendment (Keeping Australia Safe) Bill 2026

Summary

This amendment to the Criminal Code Act 1995 creates a new crime: helping someone enter Australia if that person has been involved in terrorism, is a member of a terrorist organisation, or plans to commit a terrorism offence. The offence applies to the Criminal Code's Part 5.5 and covers people bringing others into the country from overseas without written permission from both the Foreign Affairs Minister and Home Affairs Minister. The change addresses concerns about the repatriation of Australians involved in terrorism overseas by requiring government approval before they can be brought back into the country, while also extending the legal framework for declared conflict zones from 2027 to 2030.

What happens at this stage

The main debate on whether the chamber supports the broad purpose of the bill. Members speak to its overall merits and concerns rather than the fine print. The government outlines its policy intentions; the opposition and crossbench put their case. This is the stage that determines whether the bill proceeds at all.

Next: Consideration in Detail (House) or Committee of the Whole (Senate), where the bill is examined clause by clause