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University hit with sanctions warning after Iranian state media attended event on campus
A Sydney university has been warned about a possible breach of Australian sanctions on Iran over a controversial event held on campus earlier this year.
The Australian Sanctions Office investigated the event held at Western Sydney University as a possible breach of sanctions placed on PressTV, an English-language state media outlet run out of Iran.
In February, the Benevolent Iranian Women's Association held an International Women's Day event at the university's South Parramatta campus, aimed at "addressing misconceptions" about the status of women in Iran.
It was attended by independent senator Fatima Payman, who gave an interview to PressTV which was subsequently edited and published on the organisation's social media channels.
Senator Payman later apologised for her comments that suggested Iran was an "incredible place" for women.
The comments were condemned by Australian-based advocates for women in Iran and prompted questions about why PressTV was seemingly operating freely in Australia.
Kylie Moore-Gilbert, a political scientist who spent two years detained in Iran, said PressTV's coverage of the event put "the integrity of the entire sanctions regime into question".
PressTV has been a sanctioned entity in Australia for nearly two years, which essentially prohibits financial dealings with the state broadcaster.
It was sanctioned over its broadcast of forced confessions, the announcement of which was timed to coincide with the one-year anniversary of Iran's morality police detaining 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who would eventually die in custody.
The sanctions office investigated the event earlier this year and the matter was raised with Department of Foriegn Affairs and Trade officials during estimates hearings in the weeks after it was held.
It led to "corrective action" being taken, which can include formal warnings, monitoring of transactions being stepped up, or tighter restrictions on trade permits.
The sanctions office does not ordinarily detail steps taken to enforce sanctions, but Western Sydney University has confirmed it was issued an informal warning.
A university spokesperson maintained it did not know PressTV was attending the campus or the full nature of the event at the time it was booked.
"The university was contacted by the Australian Sanctions Office," they said.
"This was not a Western Sydney University event. Organisers hired a university venue, informing us it was for an International Women's Day event. The university was not told that PressTV would be attending.
"Notwithstanding the circumstances of the booking, the Australian Sanctions Office has provided an informal warning to the university.
"The university has cooperated fully with the Australian Sanctions Office and the university has taken measures to prevent a similar incident from occurring."
It is not known if other actions or warnings have been issued to others involved in the event, but sources have told the ABC that Senator Payman has not been issued a warning.
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it could not comment on specific incidents.
"The Australian government takes sanctions compliance seriously. The Australian Sanctions Office is Australia's sanctions regulator and performs independent evaluations of compliance," they said.
"It is the longstanding practice of successive Australian governments not to comment on individual sanctions compliance matters."
