Australia has introduced legislation that would create federal criminal offences for match-fixing, extending the legal focus beyond betting-related corruption to the integrity of sporting contests themselves.
The Criminal Code Amendment (National Sport Integrity Offences) Bill 2026 was introduced on 20 August by Attorney-General Michelle Rowland and Sport Minister Anika Wells. The bill proposes seven offences, with the most serious carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.
Federal Law Targets Competition Manipulation
The proposed offences cover corrupting a sporting event, inducing or soliciting that corruption, and handling information connected with corrupt conduct or inside information. The government says match-fixing can expose athletes to coercion and exploitation, damage confidence in competitions and create opportunities for transnational crime syndicates to launder money or manipulate results.
The legislation follows recommendations from the Review of Australia’s Sports Integrity Arrangements and advances Australia’s commitment to the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, known as the Macolin Convention. Australia signed the treaty in 2019 as its first non-European signatory.
Rowland said: “There’s no place in Australia for match-fixing or conduct that seeks to undermine the integrity of our sporting events. That’s why the Albanese Government is introducing the Commonwealth’s strongest ever laws to ensure our sport sector is safe, fair and free from corruption.”
A Broader Definition Of Sporting Corruption
The bill takes a different approach from laws that connect match-fixing offences directly to wagering outcomes. Its explanatory memorandum says the protected interest is preserving the unpredictability of sport, while the proposed offences generally apply regardless of the motive behind conduct that undermines a contest.
That distinction could cover manipulation where no betting market exists. The explanatory material cites the 2016 Olympic boxing controversy, where an official sought payment connected with a bout, and an investigation later identified about 11 suspicious or manipulated fights at the Rio Games. The conduct involved medals and institutional interests rather than betting.
The bill also sets boundaries around legitimate sporting decisions. Its definition of “benefit” excludes advantages ordinarily due through participation, including wages, prize money, trophies and favourable draft selections. A separate standard asks whether conduct falls below what a reasonable person would expect from sporting integrity, allowing the assessment to account for accepted practices within individual sports.
New Offences Add Information Controls
The proposed framework includes offences concerning corrupt conduct information and inside information. One provision would criminalise possessing corrupt conduct information with an intention to use it, creating a preparatory offence without an existing State or Territory precedent.
The bill draws on an earlier Australian Football League case involving a player who disclosed his starting position to family members before they wagered on him to score first. His odds moved sharply, prompting an integrity investigation.
The legislation forms part of a wider government integrity agenda and follows the passage of the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill. However, the match-fixing bill remains before Parliament and could change during its passage. Significant provisions are tied to Australia’s ratification of the Macolin Convention.
Wells said: “Australians love sport and believe it should be built on merit, effort, and fairness. This legislation helps protect that belief.”
Source:
“New law introduced to criminalise match-fixing and strengthen the integrity of Australian sport”, ministers.ag.gov.au, August 20, 2026
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