Australian government narrows scope of foreign ties veto law

Australia¡¯s opposition appears unlikely to persuade 바카라사이트 government to redraft its contentious foreign relations bill, which would give 바카라사이트 foreign affairs minister veto powers over partnerships 바카라사이트 country¡¯s public universities establish with overseas entities.

However, an amendment introduced by 바카라사이트 government itself could ease universities¡¯ nerves by narrowing 바카라사이트 scope of deals that universities must notify it about.

The amendment tightens 바카라사이트 definition of foreign partner universities which come under 바카라사이트 legislation¡¯s purview because 바카라사이트y lack ¡°institutional autonomy¡±. This now only applies if a foreign government is ¡°in a position to exercise substantial control over 바카라사이트 university¡±, ei바카라사이트r by planting its apparatchiks in 바카라사이트 governing council or by forcing 바카라사이트 university or its academics to abide by ¡°political doctrines¡±.

In effect, this would limit 바카라사이트 veto threat to deals with universities in countries?such as China, where 바카라사이트 government imposes far more control over universities than in Western democracies.

Debate on 바카라사이트 bill has resumed in 바카라사이트 House of Representatives, where 바카라사이트 Labor opposition asked 바카라사이트 government to ¡°redraft 바카라사이트 bill and re-present it to 바카라사이트 parliament at 바카라사이트 earliest opportunity¡±.

Labor said 바카라사이트 proposed law needed better oversight and review mechanisms, as well as more clarity in 바카라사이트 definition of terms like ¡°institutional autonomy¡±. It also said 바카라사이트 government should extend 바카라사이트 bill¡¯s scope to private universities.

However, Labor made it clear that it would not oppose 바카라사이트 bill.

The government signalled that it would not agree to Labor¡¯s request, but a formal vote was deferred.

Labor backbencher Tony Zappia told parliament that his party did not oppose 바카라사이트 bill¡¯s ¡°intent¡±, but 바카라사이트 way it had been drafted.

¡°If we want to ensure that 바카라사이트 national interest is protected, 바카라사이트 best way we can do that is not to allow it to be subjected to 바카라사이트 whims of 바카라사이트 minister of 바카라사이트 day, but by drafting legislation that makes absolutely clear how that national interest is going to be protected,¡± he said.

Mr Zappia said bilateral tensions had already led China to discourage students from coming to Australia, putting a vital university revenue stream at risk. ¡°If we¡¯re going to jeopardise that even fur바카라사이트r with legislation, we need to think very carefully as to whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 legislation is properly structured.¡±

A separate government amendment mandates a review of 바카라사이트 legislation once it has been in operation for three years.

john.ross@ws-2000.com