Federal politicians have been urged to introduce a regime to ban human rights abusers from entering Australia, and to have their assets frozen.
A parliamentary committee has heard evidence about whether Australia should enshrine a so-called Magnitsky Act.
The laws are named after lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who died in jail after accusing Russian officials of tax fraud.
The legislation would allow the government to name people linked to breaches of international law or corruption, and see them banned from travelling to or investing in Australia.
The United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada have used the measures to respond to Russian aggression.
Human Rights Watch director Elaine Pearson said the laws would put the squeeze on crooked foreign officials.
“If we think about what is powerful about this type of law it’s really the deterrent value—putting other governments and individuals on notice that if they engage in serious human rights abuses or corruption, that there will be consequences,” she told the public hearing on Tuesday.
“As far as corruption is concerned it is really important to think about … things that can be frozen to prevent people from having access, and prevent people from really squirrelling away ill-gotten gains in Australian bank accounts.
“The problem with the existing regime is that it has a very broad definition, it actually doesn’t include human rights or corruption in the actual act itself.”
Pearson said the US had used its regime to name 17 people linked to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul.
She said an Australian scheme should have clear criteria and allow those named to review and challenge their listing.
Save the Children policy director Simon Henderson said the nation’s current framework lacked accountability measures.
Henderson said the legislative regime should have specific protections for children, by focusing on sexual abusers, people who had killed children, used child soldiers and attacked schools.
The government says it already has a sanctions regime as well as character tests for visas.
Former Labor MP Michael Danby introduced a private members’ bill to parliament in late 2018 which ensured those connected to human rights abuses would be banned from travelling to or investing in Australia.
The proposed laws lapsed at the last election.
By Rebecca Gredley