The short answer

Criminal Code Amendment (National Sport Integrity Offences) Bill 2026: match-fixing offences explained

The Criminal Code Amendment (National Sport Integrity Offences) Bill 2026 is a government bill, introduced in the House of Representatives on 20 August 2026 under the Attorney-General's portfolio. It would insert a new Part 10.10 into the Criminal Code Act 1995 creating seven offences that criminalise the manipulation of sporting events, including match-fixing, and related conduct such as inducing or soliciting corruption of an event, concealing or using corrupt conduct information, and using inside information. The bill implements the government's response to the 2018 Report of the Review of Australia's Sports Integrity Arrangements (the Wood Review) and, unlike the review's recommendation, generally does not link the offences to betting. On 20 August 2026 the bill was referred to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee with a report due by 2 October 2026. As of 21 August 2026 it had not been enacted.

This is a federal system guide. State constitutions, parliaments and local-government laws can allocate comparable functions differently.

The useful question is not only “what is the rule?” but also “who administers it, which document controls it, and when might it change?” That distinction prevents an accurate general explanation from becoming wrong advice in a particular election, chamber or policy setting.

Evidence review

What the bill would do

The bill would insert a new Part 10.10 into the Criminal Code Act 1995 creating seven offences aimed at behaviour that undermines the integrity of sport: corrupting a sporting event; inducing the corruption of a sporting event; soliciting the corruption of a sporting event; altering, destroying or concealing corrupt conduct information; using or communicating corrupt conduct information; possessing corrupt conduct information with intent to use or communicate it; and using or communicating inside information.

The explanatory memorandum, circulated by the Attorney-General, Michelle Rowland MP, says the offences are intended to criminalise manipulation of a sporting event (including match-fixing) and related behaviours that undermine confidence in sports competitions and damage the reputation and commercial viability of sporting codes and events.

The general principles of criminal responsibility in Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code, including ancillary and corporate criminal responsibility, would apply to the new offences unless expressly excluded.

Evidence review

Why the bill exists: the Wood Review

In 2017 the then Minister for Sport commissioned the Honourable James Wood AO QC to review Australia's sports integrity arrangements. The Wood Review, released in August 2018, identified the manipulation of sports competitions (match-fixing) as one of the leading threats to the integrity of the sports sector, alongside doping.

The Wood Review recommended that Australia become a party to the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions (the Macolin Convention), which Australia signed on 1 February 2019 but has not ratified, and that the Commonwealth establish national match-fixing offences similar to those in New South Wales.

The review found significant variation between state and territory laws on match-fixing related offences, noting for example that Tasmania and Western Australia continued to rely on general fraud offences, and that jurisdictions differed on whether betting with inside information or corrupting a betting outcome were criminal offences.

The explanatory memorandum records that the government provided $1.2 million over three years from 2024-25, plus $0.6 million per year ongoing, to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions to support establishment and implementation of the new offences.

Evidence review

The seven offences in detail

The sports corruption offence (new section 495.7) would prohibit intentionally engaging in conduct reckless as to whether the conduct corrupts a sporting event, with the intention of obtaining a benefit for the person or another, or avoiding or causing a detriment to another person.

The inducing sports corruption offence (new subsection 495.8(1)) would prohibit providing a benefit to another person, and related behaviours, reckless as to whether that conduct would tend to influence a person to engage in conduct that corrupts a sporting event. The soliciting sports corruption offence (new subsection 495.8(2)) would prohibit asking for, receiving or obtaining, or agreeing to receive or obtain, a benefit reckless as to whether this would tend to influence a person to engage in corrupting conduct.

Three offences target corrupt conduct information: concealing it (new section 495.10), using or communicating it with the intention of improperly obtaining a benefit or avoiding or causing a detriment (new section 495.11), and possessing it with intent to use or communicate it (new section 495.12). A seventh offence (new section 495.13) would prohibit using or communicating inside information in relation to a sporting event with the same improper intention, which the explanatory memorandum describes as a recognised gateway to more serious match-fixing.

Evidence review

How the offences are designed

In a departure from recommendation 3 of the Wood Review, the offences are generally not linked directly to betting. The explanatory memorandum says the new offences are intended to criminalise behaviour that undermines the integrity of sport regardless of whether the behaviour also amounts to cheating at gambling, because match-fixing occurs for a variety of motivations and not all sporting events are events on which a bet may lawfully be placed.

The offences would apply nationally and, in certain circumstances, outside Australia, reflecting the transnational nature of match-fixing threats, subject to constitutional limits including the external affairs power in subsection 51(xxix) of the Constitution as it would be enlivened by Australia's obligations under the Macolin Convention if and when it comes into force for Australia.

Convicted individuals would face imprisonment, a pecuniary penalty, or both; convicted bodies corporate would generally face a penalty 10 times higher than for a natural person. The explanatory memorandum notes the value of a penalty unit is $364 as at 1 July 2026, and that the penalties mean there is no statutory limitation on the commencement of a prosecution for the offences.

Evidence review

Parliamentary status

The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives and read a first time on 20 August 2026, and the second reading was moved the same day by the Attorney-General. The second reading debate was adjourned, with its resumption made an order of the day for the next sitting, according to the House Live Minutes for 20 August 2026.

The Parliament of Australia bill page records that on 20 August 2026 the bill was referred to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, with a report due by 2 October 2026.

As of 21 August 2026 the bill had not been enacted. It must pass both houses of Parliament and receive Royal Assent before the offences would come into operation.

Common questions

Before you rely on the answer

What offences would the bill create?

Seven offences: corrupting a sporting event, inducing its corruption, soliciting its corruption, altering/destroying/concealing corrupt conduct information, using or communicating corrupt conduct information, possessing it with intent to use or communicate, and using or communicating inside information.

Is the bill linked to betting?

Generally no. In a departure from a Wood Review recommendation, the offences are not linked directly to betting, so they can apply to match-fixing and related conduct regardless of whether betting was involved.

What is the Wood Review?

The Report of the Review of Australia's Sports Integrity Arrangements, delivered by the Honourable James Wood AO QC in August 2018, which examined threats to sports integrity in Australia and recommended national match-fixing criminal offences and accession to the Macolin Convention.

Has the bill become law?

No. As of 21 August 2026 the bill was before the House of Representatives with the second reading debate adjourned and a Senate committee inquiry under way (report due 2 October 2026). It must pass both houses and receive Royal Assent to become law.

Would the offences apply to conduct outside Australia?

The offences are designed to apply nationally and, in certain circumstances, outside Australia, consistent with the transnational nature of match-fixing threats, subject to constitutional limits as described in the explanatory memorandum.

Source spine

Primary material used for this guide

Review trigger: New bill introduced on 20 August 2026 and referred to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee (report due 2 October 2026) (create). Review when the committee reports, when the second reading debate resumes, when the bill passes either house, upon Royal Assent, or if the government ratifies the Macolin Convention.

Archive note: This article reviews the Criminal Code Amendment (National Sport Integrity Offences) Bill 2026 as introduced in the House of Representatives on 20 August 2026, based on the Parliament of Australia bill page, the explanatory memorandum and the bill text as published on ParlInfo, checked on 21 August 2026. The bill is a proposal and has not been enacted. Committee referral and report dates come from the Parliament of Australia bill page notes.

Primary links are provided without affiliate or tracking parameters. Confirm that the source still applies to the bill, sitting date, jurisdiction or reporting period before relying on it.