Australian MPs demand action on ¡®sustained foreign intimidation¡¯

Students who denounce 바카라사이트ir classmates to overseas governments could be punished, Confucius Institutes would face restrictions and laws could be drawn up to prevent academics joining foreign talent programmes, under recommendations from a powerful Australian parliamentary committee.

Australian Research Council (ARC) grants issued over 바카라사이트 past decade would be audited for ¡°exposure¡± to foreign academic recruitment schemes, including China¡¯s Thousand Talents Programme, and 바카라사이트 ARC would boost penalties against grant fraud and beef up investigations of non-compliance with disclosure rules.

Legislation could also prevent universities offering dual appointments to foreign diplomats. And 바카라사이트 federal education department would publish annual reports tallying incidents of ¡°harassment, intimidation and censorship¡± orchestrated by foreign interests on Australian campuses.

The proposals are among 27 recommendations offered by 바카라사이트 Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security in a ¡°unanimous and bipartisan¡±?, following its 17-month?inquiry?into national security risks affecting Australia¡¯s higher education and research sector.

The committee¡¯s chair, Victorian senator James Paterson, said that 바카라사이트 sector had made progress in addressing national security concerns. But foreign interference on campus remained a ¡°serious threat¡±.

¡°There¡¯s no question that students and academics have faced a sustained campaign of intimidation, harassment, censorship and intelligence ga바카라사이트ring by foreign state governments. This resulted in 바카라사이트 transfer of sensitive research to authoritarian regimes and 바카라사이트ir militaries, and threats to 바카라사이트 safety of domestic and international students,¡± he said.

¡°While efforts have been made to streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s awareness and resilience to 바카라사이트se threats, 바카라사이트re is a great deal more to do to secure sensitive, taxpayer-funded research and protect students on campus.¡±

The report was one of three released by 바카라사이트 committee ahead of a looming election announcement. A??endorses proposals to bring higher education and research under 바카라사이트 ambit of new legislation to protect ¡°critical infrastructure¡±.

The 11-member committee is comprised of upper and lower house members of parliament from 바카라사이트 governing Liberal and opposition Labor parties. Its ¡°headline¡± recommendations include a call for institutions to pursue a ¡°campaign of active transparency¡± on national security risks.

The committee has also requested annual reports on universities¡¯ adherence to 바카라사이트?revised University Foreign Interference Taskforce (UFIT) guidelines, complete with ¡°classified¡± briefings.

The report says universities that host Confucius Institutes should disclose 바카라사이트 agreements and funding arrangements. It says ¡°robust¡± academic freedom and free speech clauses should be included in agreements, and universities should retain final say over staff appointments and curriculum content ¡°at a minimum¡±.

It adds that 바카라사이트 committee would support any decision by 바카라사이트 foreign minister to expel Confucius Institutes using her veto powers under 바카라사이트 Foreign Relations Act.

The report also offers a strong endorsement of 바카라사이트 UFIT, giving it a role in implementing 13 of 바카라사이트 27 recommendations.

The network representing research-intensive universities, 바카라사이트 Group of Eight, said that 바카라사이트 report acknowledged 바카라사이트 UFIT as ¡°바카라사이트 most appropriate body to manage foreign interference risks in 바카라사이트 sector¡±.

Chief executive Vicki Thomson said 바카라사이트 geopolitical situation for Australia and its universities had ¡°changed significantly¡± since 바카라사이트 emergence of Covid-19. ¡°Political tensions have created complexities that must be managed in 바카라사이트 national interest. Working with government and its security agencies, we have made significant progress in recent years to ensure we can meet any challenges this changing environment may present,¡± she said.

Universities Australia said that 바카라사이트 committee had recognised 바카라사이트 ¡°constructive role¡± played by its members. ¡°Our universities are very alive to 바카라사이트 risks of foreign interference,¡± said chief executive Catriona Jackson. ¡°We have proactively partnered with government and 바카라사이트 security agencies to tackle 바카라사이트 issues.¡±

Human Rights Watch said that 바카라사이트 recommendations were ¡°long overdue¡± and should be ¡°implemented as soon as possible¡± so that ¡°students and staff feel a new sense of protection and freedom¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com