Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Amendment Bill 2026

Summary

This amendment tightens the rules around how Australian states and territories can make their own international agreements and arrangements with foreign governments and organizations. Currently, states and territories have some ability to conduct their own foreign relations, but this change restricts that power by requiring closer coordination with the federal government and potentially giving Canberra more control over these deals. It amends the Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Act to add new requirements or limitations on what arrangements states and territories can enter into without federal approval. This matters because it shifts power away from individual states — like Victoria or New South Wales negotiating trade deals or climate agreements — back to the federal level, which could affect how quickly states can respond to international opportunities and how much independence they have in their own affairs.

What happens at this stage

The final vote in this chamber on the bill as a whole, after all amendments have been considered. If it passes, the bill moves to the other chamber to go through the same process. If both chambers have already agreed to identical text, the bill proceeds directly to Royal Assent.

Next: The other chamber, which runs the same process from First Reading, or Royal Assent if both chambers have already agreed