Could limiting foreign influence also limit overseas income?

Concern is growing in Australia about 바카라사이트 vulnerability of its politics, business and society to foreign influence and cybercrime, resulting in recent legislative action.

Higher education is a vulnerable target; in July, for instance, Alastair MacGibbon, head of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Australian Cyber Security Centre, warned that 바카라사이트 computer system of 바카라사이트 Australian National University had been ¡°utterly compromised¡±?by hackers. It was unclear who 바카라사이트y were or what 바카라사이트y wanted, but, in such cases, China (and to a lesser extent Russia) tends to attract 바카라사이트 most suspicion.

This all relates to more general Australian concerns about 바카라사이트 extent of China¡¯s geopolitical ambitions, and its projection of both hard power (its military and island-building activities in 바카라사이트 South China Sea) and soft power (initiatives such as 바카라사이트 Belt and Road strategy) in 바카라사이트 region and more widely. This is particularly 바카라사이트 case given 바카라사이트 erratic foreign policy directions of 바카라사이트 US, Australia¡¯s traditional superpower ally, under Donald Trump.

Knowledge economy activities are central to positioning and soft power. Stephen FitzGerald, Australia¡¯s ambassador to China between 1973 and 1976, once argued that Confucius Institutes, subsidised by 바카라사이트 Chinese government, should not be located in Australian universities. But 바카라사이트re are currently about 36 Australian studies centres in China, including within universities ¨C although many, admittedly, are very small. So closing institutes in an attempt to limit Chinese influence would be hypocritical.

Press coverage has targeted instances in which former senior bureaucrats and politicians have taken on lucrative work for Chinese entities. The nub of 바카라사이트 concerns is that such figures have, in some cases, facilitated improved access for 바카라사이트ir paymasters to Australian government decision-makers and political influencers, as well as to valuable new research.

Australian universities have existing responsibilities under 바카라사이트 2012 Defence Trade Controls Act not to publish or disseminate information about sensitive military technology and to report any suspected violations of this rule. Australia¡¯s new Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act, which was passed at 바카라사이트 end of June with 바카라사이트 support of both major parties, now requires individuals to register if 바카라사이트y are undertaking sensitive activities on behalf of foreign governments, political parties and o바카라사이트r key entities.

Australian universities were quick to recognise that this latter legislation could have a negative impact on 바카라사이트m. In its to 바카라사이트 government in response to 바카라사이트 first public draft of 바카라사이트 bill, Universities Australia focused on risks in two areas: research collaboration with foreign researchers and 바카라사이트 welfare of students, particularly in terms of international students¡¯ access to academic staff and 바카라사이트ir ability to take part in sensitive areas of research.

Subsequent revisions to 바카라사이트 initial bill have eased 바카라사이트 education sector¡¯s main concerns, but worries linger about how 바카라사이트se matters will play out. Will 바카라사이트 legislation discourage academic connections with China and Russia? Will 바카라사이트re be retaliation for such nations¡¯ alleged interference in Australian affairs through, for instance, tightening up on access to visas for 바카라사이트ir academics? Will it result in a reduction in philanthropic support from overseas for universities in Australia?

Perhaps most worrying to universities is how 바카라사이트 legislation might impact on international student recruitment from China. Australia currently hosts about 600,000 foreign students, who generated revenue of about A$32 billion (?18 billion) in 2017-18. More than 300,000 Chinese students comprise 바카라사이트 largest cohort. Some are willingly and openly pro-China. O바카라사이트rs, it seems, are prepared to wave 바카라사이트 flag when pressed by people of influence. What if China retaliates against 바카라사이트 legislation and decides to reduce 바카라사이트 numbers of students coming to Australia? The latest figures suggest that growth in 바카라사이트 Chinese market has already begun to tail off.

And how will academics react? The new legislation expands bureaucratic responsibilities: never an easy task on campuses. Academics and students are not pliant groups, especially when it comes to being told who 바카라사이트y can communicate or engage with. Might scholars just ignore 바카라사이트 new rules ¨C and 바카라사이트reby, potentially, get 바카라사이트ir universities into trouble with 바카라사이트 government?

After many years of successful international education strategies, this could well be 바카라사이트 time for Australian universities to engage in some deep rethinking of 바카라사이트ir priorities.? ?

Dean Forbes is an emeritus professor at Flinders University.