# Sanctions for failing to satisfy sponsorship obligations

> act-s140K — as in force on 2026-06-04 — C2026C00232 · Compilation No. 171 — https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2026C00232/latest/text

140K Sanctions for failing to satisfy sponsorship obligations

               Actions that may be taken in relation to approved sponsors
          (1) If a person is an approved sponsor and fails to satisfy an applicable
              sponsorship obligation, one or more of the following actions may
              be taken:
                (a) the Minister may do one or more of the following:
                      (i) if regulations are prescribed under section 140L, bar the
                          sponsor under subsection 140M(1) from doing certain
                          things;









                      (ii) if regulations are prescribed under section 140L, cancel
                           the person’s approval as a work sponsor or family
                           sponsor under subsection 140M(1);
                     (iii) apply for a civil penalty order;
                     (iv) accept an undertaking under section 114 of the
                           Regulatory Powers Act, for the purposes of this
                           Subdivision from the person;
                      (v) if the Minister considers that the person has breached
                           such an undertaking—apply for an order under
                           section 115 of the Regulatory Powers Act, for the
                           purposes of this Subdivision;
                 (b) the person may be issued with an infringement notice under
                     regulations made for the purposes of section 506A as an
                     alternative to proceedings for a civil penalty order;
                 (c) an authorized officer may require and take a security under
                     section 269 or enforce a security already taken under that
                     section;
                 (d) an authorised officer may give the person a compliance
                     notice under section 140RB.

               Actions that may be taken in relation to former approved sponsors
          (2) If a person was an approved sponsor and fails to satisfy an
              applicable sponsorship obligation, one or more of the following
              actions may be taken:
                (a) the Minister may do one or more of the following:
                       (i) if regulations are prescribed under section 140L, bar the
                           person under subsection 140M(2) from making future
                           applications for approval as a work sponsor or family
                           sponsor;
                      (ii) apply for a civil penalty order;
                     (iii) accept an undertaking under section 114 of the
                           Regulatory Powers Act, for the purposes of this
                           Subdivision from the person;
                     (iv) if the Minister considers that the person has breached
                           such an undertaking—apply for an order under









                           section 115 of the Regulatory Powers Act, for the
                           purposes of this Subdivision;
                 (b) the person may be issued with an infringement notice under
                     regulations made for the purposes of section 506A as an
                     alternative to proceedings for a civil penalty order;
                 (c) an authorized officer may require and take a security under
                     section 269 or enforce a security already taken under that
                     section;
                 (d) an authorised officer may give the person a compliance
                     notice under section 140RB.
          (3) To avoid doubt, subsections (1) and (2) do not limit the
              circumstances in which:
                (a) the Minister may:
                      (i) bar an approved sponsor under section 140M from
                          doing certain things; or
                     (ii) cancel a person’s approval as a work sponsor or family
                          sponsor under section 140M; or
                (b) an authorized officer may require and take a security under
                    section 269 or enforce a security already taken under that
                    section.

               Publishing information about sanctions
          (4) The Minister must, subject to subsection (7), publish the
              information (including personal information) prescribed by the
              regulations if an action is taken under this section in relation to an
              approved sponsor or former approved sponsor who fails to satisfy
              an applicable sponsorship obligation.
          (5) The Minister is not required to observe any requirements of the
              natural justice hearing rule in publishing information under
              subsection (4).
          (6) No civil liability arises from action taken by the Minister in good
              faith in publishing information under subsection (4).










          (7) The regulations may prescribe circumstances in which the Minister
              is not required to publish information under subsection (4).