Australia plans to Give Federal the Power to Abolish Agreements Between Local and Foreign Governments: Not Against China
Australia is proposing legislation to give the federal government the power to repeal any agreements that local governments and public bodies make with foreign governments. Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, said on Thursday (27th August 2020) that the action was not directed at China.
Under the new legislation, the foreign minister will have the power to revoke any agreement between a local government, city council or public university, and a foreign government if it "jeopardises Australia's diplomatic relations" or "is inconsistent with Australian foreign policy". The legislation has a retrospective effect, and Morrison said, as far as he knows, Australia has 130 agreements with 30 countries.
The legislation is designed to reduce the influence of the Chinese Communist Party in Australia's trade and national security. Nevertheless, Morrison denied that the new law was particularly for China and that "the law concerns Australia's sovereign interests".
In recent years, almost all of the Australian regional governments signed cooperation agreements with China, including in mining, education and tourism. Australian universities are also trying to forge closer ties with China, as overseas students are a significant contributor to Australia's economy, generating AUD 35 billion (HKD 196 billion) a year, with Chinese students accounting for a third of the total.
#Australia #China #ChineseEconomicInfluence #ScottMorrison #Federal
Source: Apple Daily #Aug27
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20200827/DSFE2SKT55EZHEGSRD3QNLWQWA/
Australia is proposing legislation to give the federal government the power to repeal any agreements that local governments and public bodies make with foreign governments. Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, said on Thursday (27th August 2020) that the action was not directed at China.
Under the new legislation, the foreign minister will have the power to revoke any agreement between a local government, city council or public university, and a foreign government if it "jeopardises Australia's diplomatic relations" or "is inconsistent with Australian foreign policy". The legislation has a retrospective effect, and Morrison said, as far as he knows, Australia has 130 agreements with 30 countries.
The legislation is designed to reduce the influence of the Chinese Communist Party in Australia's trade and national security. Nevertheless, Morrison denied that the new law was particularly for China and that "the law concerns Australia's sovereign interests".
In recent years, almost all of the Australian regional governments signed cooperation agreements with China, including in mining, education and tourism. Australian universities are also trying to forge closer ties with China, as overseas students are a significant contributor to Australia's economy, generating AUD 35 billion (HKD 196 billion) a year, with Chinese students accounting for a third of the total.
#Australia #China #ChineseEconomicInfluence #ScottMorrison #Federal
Source: Apple Daily #Aug27
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20200827/DSFE2SKT55EZHEGSRD3QNLWQWA/