Parliamentary friends of blockchain
About
Led by the Digital Economy Council of Australia (DECA), the Australian Parliamentary Friends of Blockchain is a bipartisan group of members of the Commonwealth Parliament focused on the transformative potential of blockchain, digital assets, and their applications across the Australian economy and society.
Upcoming Forum
Location & Timings:
PARLIAMENT HOUSE
1Q 2027, Date TBA
Canberra, ACT
Our Hosts
The Parliamentary Friends of Blockchain is proudly co-chaired by Senator the Hon Andrew Bragg and the Hon Dr Andrew Charlton MP, reflecting strong bipartisan leadership. Together, they provide a trusted forum for open dialogue between Parliament and the digital economy, ensuring balanced engagement on emerging technologies, regulation, and innovation.
Dr Andrew Charlton MP
Member for Parramatta | Cabinet Secretary and Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy | Australian Labor Party
Dr Charlton plays a key role in advancing Australia’s innovation agenda through his Labor ministerial portfolios. With oversight of science, technology, and the digital economy, he supports policies that foster responsible growth in areas such as blockchain, tokenisation, and AI.
Senator Andrew Bragg
Senator for New South Wales | Shadow Assistant Minister for Home Ownership and the Cost of Living | Liberal Party of Australia
Senator Bragg is a leading voice on digital asset policy within the Liberal Party. He chaired the Senate Select Committee on Australia as a Technology and Financial Centre, and continues to advocate for regulatory clarity and global competitiveness in blockchain and emerging technologies.
Events
May 13th, 2026 – Policy Paper Launch
Location: Parliament House, Canberra – Dame Enid Lyons Alcove
Overview: Launch of DECA’s proactive policy paper, developed from the February 2026 Policy Forum.
The event brings together parliamentarians and DECA members to discuss key recommendations on Digital Asset Reserves, Tokenisation and Building a Cohesive Regulatory Framework for Australia’s Digital Economy.
July 28th, 2025 – Policy Paper Launch
Location: Parliament House, Canberra – Dame Enid Lyons Alcove
Overview: Launch of DECA’s proactive policy paper, developed from the March 2025 Policy Forum.
The event brings together parliamentarians and DECA members to discuss key recommendations on tokenisation, digitalisation of trade, and tax reform.
February 11th, 2025 – 2025 Launch
Location: Parliament House, Canberra – Dame Enid Lyons Alcove
Overview:
The first Parliamentary Friends of Blockchain event for 2025 saw industry leaders meet with Treasurer Jim Chalmers in Canberra to highlight the importance of prioritising the digital asset and blockchain sector. The discussion focused on the urgent need for fit-for-purpose legislation to support the industry’s role in driving Australia’s economic growth.
Following this, DECA hosted a formal PFOB gathering that brought together representatives from Treasury, the Prime Minister’s Office, Members of Parliament, Senators, senior government advisors, and industry stakeholders. The event demonstrated a strong, bipartisan commitment to innovation and a shared ambition to position Australia as a leader in digital asset adoption and policy development.
Throughout the day, participants underscored the critical need for regulatory clarity and reinforcing its importance to Australia’s global competitiveness, financial resilience, and future-facing digital economy.
October 11th 2024 – Unlocking the Ownership Economy: Tokenisation Policy Briefing
Location: Parliament House, Canberra – Dame Enid Lyons Alcove
Overview:
The Digital Economy Council of Australia (DECA), the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC), and Ripple presented a landmark policy paper to Parliament outlining the regulatory reforms needed to unlock the full economic potential of real world asset (RWA) tokenisation.
The briefing explored how tokenising assets such as real estate, commodities, or securities can increase liquidity and access to private markets, with the potential to generate up to AUD $12 billion annually for the Australian economy.
The report identified three key reforms to enable growth: a clear taxonomy for digital assets, modernised licensing frameworks, and the introduction of regulatory sandboxes to support safe innovation.
Attendees from across government and industry discussed how Australia can remain globally competitive in the USD $2 trillion tokenisation market and ensure broad participation in this next phase of financial innovation.
👉 [Download the full report here]
Key Contacts & More Information
For more information about the Australian Parliamentary Friends of Blockchain, upcoming events, or how to engage:
General Enquiries
📧 alec@deca.org.au
Media and Government Relations
📧 amy-rose@deca.org.au
To learn more about membership with the Digital Economy Council of Australia (DECA), visit www.deca.org.au/membership