Should Australia require incoming travelers to disclose recent foreign military membership?
The Greens proposed adding two foreign-military membership questions to Australia's incoming passenger card. Labor opposed the amendment, citing concerns about answer accuracy and implementation costs. The amendment was not included in the enacted law.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
The Greens proposed asking every person entering Australia whether they had belonged to a foreign military in the preceding 12 months and, if so, which one. Senator David Shoebridge argued that the information would help authorities identify potential risks. Senator Anthony Chisholm said the government opposed the change because the answers might be unreliable when most needed and the cost of changing border systems was disproportionate. Senator Nick McKim moved the amendment on September 10. It was not included in the final act. The Age reported that Coalition and One Nation senators left the chamber before the vote, but did not name the senators or establish their reasons. The proposed questions applied to membership in any foreign military. See the September 7 debate (opens in a new tab), the September 10 amendment text (opens in a new tab), The Age's report (opens in a new tab), and the enacted law (opens in a new tab).
Timeline
1 timeline entry on this page. Dates: September 9, 2026
September 2026
1 event
Greens foreign-military disclosure amendment fails in the Senate
The Greens' foreign-military disclosure amendment did not become law. The Age reported that Coalition and One Nation senators left the chamber before the vote; the final act does not include the proposed questions. The report did not identify individual senators or their reasons for leaving.
[01]Senate committee debate on foreign-military disclosure amendment, September 10
Senate in-committee transcript reproducing the text of the Greens amendment moved by McKim, including both proposed incoming passenger-card questions.
Senate committee debate on foreign-military disclosure amendment, September 10Nick McKim, 1:20 pm; amendments (1) and (2), sheet 4039[02]The Age reports foreign-military disclosure amendment voted down
The Age reported that Coalition and One Nation senators left the chamber before the vote. The article did not name individual senators or explain their reasons.
[03]Regulatory Reform Omnibus Act 2026 as made
The enacted law does not include the Greens' proposed Schedule 3A with foreign-military membership questions.
Response record
Responses
Latest recorded positions: 3. Dates: September 7, 2026 to September 9, 2026
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1 response on this page
Anthony ChisholmDirectly involved "the government will not be supporting the amendments moved by the Greens to include foreign military membership"
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)Senate debate on the Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2026, September 7David Shoebridge, 6:46 pm; Anthony Chisholm, 7:47 pmCondemnedCase context: Should Australia require incoming travelers to disclose recent foreign military membership?
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Chisholm said the Labor government would not support the passenger-card amendment. He questioned whether the cards would give accurate information when it was most needed and said the likely system costs were disproportionate to the expected benefit.
Role at the time: Australian Labor Party senator for Queensland, speaking for the government
Before the statement
Chisholm was closing the second-reading debate and discussing the government's response to non-government amendments.
After the statement
After addressing the Greens amendment, he returned to the government's wider regulatory reform agenda.
Senate debate on the Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2026, September 7David Shoebridge, 6:46 pm; Anthony Chisholm, 7:47 pmWhy this label?
Relative to the proposed arrival-card requirement, Chisholm expressly rejects the amendment and gives reliability and cost reasons for the government's opposition.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(6)
Original text
Senate committee debate on foreign-military disclosure amendment, September 10
Relevant passage: Nick McKim, 1:20 pm; amendments (1) and (2), sheet 4039
About this source
Senate in-committee transcript reproducing the text of the Greens amendment moved by McKim, including both proposed incoming passenger-card questions.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
The Age reports foreign-military disclosure amendment voted down
About this source
The Age reported that Coalition and One Nation senators left the chamber before the vote. The article did not name individual senators or explain their reasons.
- Author
- Matthew Knott
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
Regulatory Reform Omnibus Act 2026 as made
About this source
The enacted law does not include the Greens' proposed Schedule 3A with foreign-military membership questions.
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
David Shoebridge on the foreign-military disclosure amendment, September 10
About this source
Shoebridge's post after the Senate considered the amendment. He said One Nation senators left the chamber when it was put.
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
David Shoebridge's reply on Labor and the Coalition, September 10
About this source
Shoebridge's reply in the same thread. He said Labor and the Coalition opposed the amendment.
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
Senate debate on the Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2026, September 7
Relevant passage: David Shoebridge, 6:46 pm; Anthony Chisholm, 7:47 pm
About this source
Senate second-reading transcript containing Shoebridge's argument for foreign-military membership questions and Chisholm's response for the government.
- Published
- Accessed