Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee

Senate Estimates hearing,

Searchable transcript of the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee, 18 Feb 2026 Senate Estimates hearing, with chapters: Dr. Anton Moiseienko on Sanctions Vigor, Mindaroo Foundation and the Oil Loophole, Tracking Russian Crude and Superannuation, Mindaroo Foundation…

Chapters

  1. Dr. Anton Moiseienko on Sanctions Vigor (0:00)

    Dr. Anton Moiseienko argues that Australian sanctions against Russia lack vigor and recommends increasing the enforcement capacity of the Australian Sanctions Office.

  2. Mindaroo Foundation and the Oil Loophole (27:17)

    The Mindaroo Foundation highlights a loophole allowing refined Russian oil into Australia and advocates for legislative changes to ensure supply chain transparency.

  3. Tracking Russian Crude and Superannuation (49:16)

    Discussion shifts to the feasibility of tracking Russian crude oil and the indirect involvement of major Australian superannuation funds in Russian energy terminals.

  4. Mindaroo Foundation Government Engagement (1:04:04)

    Witnesses detail their correspondence with Foreign Minister Penny Wong and call for Australian legislation to mirror the stricter standards of the UK and EU.

  5. ANU Law Reform Hub on Sanctions Gaps (1:17:18)

    ANU researchers identify legal gaps in the Australian sanctions regime, specifically regarding the definition of indirectness and the handling of sovereign assets.

  6. Legal Barriers to Asset Seizure (1:30:25)

    The committee explores the legal and constitutional barriers to seizing Russian central bank assets and the potential for adopting European Union models.

  7. Transparency International and Corruption (2:51:06)

    Transparency International and KordaMentha discuss beneficial ownership, corruption in supply chains, and enforcement failures regarding Tiger's Realm Coal.

  8. Ukrainian Community on Blood Oil (3:24:42)

    Ukrainian community leaders call for an end to 'blood oil' imports and discuss their direct engagement with corporate fuel importers to seek voluntary compliance.

  9. Political Will and Tracking Feasibility (3:45:48)

    Witnesses criticize the perceived lack of political will to close refining loopholes and argue that tracking Russian oil origins is technically feasible.

  10. Consumer Awareness and Fuel Disclosure (4:10:13)

    The discussion focuses on consumer transparency at the point of sale and a direct appeal to the Foreign Minister to close the refining loophole.

  11. Energy Research and Maritime Tracking (4:42:08)

    Analysts from CREA and the Australian Institute of Petroleum explain the technical challenges of tracking refined fuel products back to Russian crude feedstocks.

  12. Market Impact and Shadow Fleets (5:09:32)

    The committee examines the economic impact of sanctions on fuel prices, shipping logistics, and the role of the Russian shadow fleet in bypassing price caps.

  13. DFAT Sanctions and Asset Breakdown (5:47:50)

    DFAT officials provide updates on industry consultations and the status of approximately $100 million in frozen Russian financial assets.

  14. Defence Modeling and Fuel Security (6:13:53)

    The Department of Defence and DFAT discuss fuel security modeling, shadow fleet evasion tactics, and the staffing levels of the Australian Sanctions Office.