Expanded sanctions have come into force in response to Russia’s ongoing threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.  These sanctions were announced by the Prime Minister on 1 September 2014 and closely match those implemented by the European Union, Canada and the United States.  They supplement targeted financial sanctions and travel bans, which Australia imposed in June and September 2014. 

The expanded sanctions include restrictions on the following activities:

• the export to or import from Russia of arms and related materiel;
• the export to Russia of certain items for use in petroleum exploration and production;
• the export to Crimea and Sevastopol of certain items for use in the energy and minerals sector;
• commercial dealing with certain capital financial market instruments issued by certain Russian state-owned entities; and
• Australian investment in Crimea and Sevastopol related to infrastructure, transport, telecommunications, energy, oil, gas and minerals sectors.