Former West Australian premier Colin Barnett has accused the Morrison government of “losing the plot” in its attempt to control all agreement with foreign countries, arguing Canberra’s “provocative” move will further damage relations with China as well as federal-state co-operation.

“Australia is a federation and the states remain sovereign in their own right,” he said. “To try to stop state governments, universities and local governments having any sort of international relationship, I just find abhorrent.”