In a one-two punch, Australian members of Parliament from both sides of the aisle have thrown their support behind Magnitsky-style laws that will give the federal government the power to impose sanctions on overseas human rights offenders. On Aug. 3, Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching introduced the International Human Rights and Corruption (Magnitsky Sanctions) Bill 2021, which was moved by fellow Labor Senator Anne Urquhart. Two days later, Foreign Minister Marise Payne, a Liberal senator, released a statement indicating the government would back the introduction of such laws. Kitching told Parliament, “Without this legislation, not only are we an outlier amongst similar democracies, but we may also become a honeypot for channelling ill-gotten gains as more and more countries implement their own sanctioning legislation.” “In a world of growing authoritarianism, this becomes a weapon for democratic pushback,” she added. “A strong and clear message will be sent to lower ranking officials …