Caretaker conventions now in place

Ahead of the 2025 federal election the Australian Government has assumed a caretaker role.

We are operating in accordance with caretaker conventions. 

International security law

The Office of International Law provides legal and legal policy advice to the Australian Government on matters of international security law, including:

  • the legal constraints on the use of force
  • international humanitarian law
  • the legal obligations that are relevant to Australia’s overseas deployments
  • international criminal law, including international criminal tribunals such as the International Criminal Court
  • the international instruments aimed at countering terrorism
  • the international instruments related to the security of maritime, air and space
  • international law issues arising out of Australia’s compliance with United Nations Security Council sanctions and autonomous sanctions
  • the international law on disarmament, non-proliferation and counter-proliferation of both conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction.