Australia: Criminal Code Amendment (Sport Integrity Offences) Bill 2026

• The Australian government has introduced the Criminal Code Amendment (National Sport Integrity Offences) Bill 2026 to criminalize match-fixing.
• The new legislation targets competition manipulation and betting-related corruption, carrying penalties of up to 10 years' imprisonment.
• Offences include corrupting events, inducing corruption, and improper handling of information, addressing threats to sport integrity and vulnerable athletes.
• The bill responds to recommendations from a national review and advances Australia's ratification of the international Macolin Convention.
• Government officials assert the law will empower law enforcement to combat match-fixing both domestically and internationally, protecting the fairness of Australian sport.

The proposed legislation introduces severe penalties, including imprisonment for up to a decade, underscoring the government's commitment to eradicating corruption from Australian sport.

The Australian government has introduced significant new legislation aimed at bolstering the integrity of sport across the nation. The proposed Criminal Code Amendment (National Sport Integrity Offences) Bill 2026 seeks to criminalize match-fixing and related corrupt practices, establishing a robust framework for Australia match-fixing criminalisation. This move is designed to create new sport integrity offences Australia, directly addressing conduct that undermines the fairness and credibility of sporting competitions.

Under the provisions of the Criminal Code Amendment (National Sport Integrity Offences) Bill 2026, a range of new criminal liabilities will be established. These include offences related to corrupting a sporting event, as well as inducing or soliciting the corruption of such an event. Furthermore, the legislation will address the improper handling of information concerning conduct that corrupts a sporting event, alongside the misuse of inside information.

The proposed legislation introduces severe penalties, including imprisonment for up to a decade, underscoring the government's commitment to eradicating corruption from Australian sport. These maximum penalties are designed to reflect the profound harm that match-fixing conduct can inflict, encompassing not only the undermining of sporting credibility and defrauding the public but also providing avenues for transnational crime syndicates to engage in money laundering, manipulate outcomes, and exploit vulnerable participants within Australian domestic sporting codes. This significantly strengthens betting-related corruption law Australia.

This legislative initiative directly responds to key recommendations stemming from the Review of Australia's Sports Integrity Arrangements, highlighting a strategic effort to implement findings from a comprehensive national assessment. Beyond domestic considerations, the bill also represents a crucial step towards Australia's ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, widely known as the Macolin Convention.

Australia holds the distinction of being the first non-European nation to sign this international treaty, which is dedicated to preventing, detecting, and sanctioning national or transnational match-fixing across both national and international sporting competitions. The Attorney-General's office has emphasized that this legislation will equip law enforcement agencies with the necessary tools to effectively address match-fixing conduct, whether it occurs within Australia or overseas, reinforcing competition manipulation penalties Australia.

Government officials have articulated that the new legislation is vital for upholding the core principles that underpin Australian sport. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland stated that there is no place for match-fixing or any conduct that seeks to compromise the integrity of sporting events in Australia. She affirmed that these new offences will ensure law enforcement agencies are well-equipped to keep sport free from such corrupt practices, irrespective of where they originate.

Minister for Sport Anika Wells further underscored the legislation's importance in protecting the belief that Australian sport should be founded on merit, effort, and fairness. Wells characterized match-fixing not merely as cheating, but as a deliberate act of corruption that poses a significant threat to the fairness, safety, and global reputation of Australian sport. The collective sentiment from government leaders is that this bill is essential for preserving the integrity and public trust in Australian sporting competitions.

Lawyers advising sports organizations, athletes, or betting entities in Australia must understand the new criminal liabilities and severe penalties (up to 10 years imprisonment) introduced by this Bill, and ensure clients are compliant with strengthened anti-match-fixing regulations to mitigate legal exposure.

Source: Reporting based on government legislative announcements