Government defends response to Chinese influence in Australian universities
Foreign interference in Australian university research is being ‘taken seriously’ by the federal government despite revelations China has recruited dozens of top Australian scientists with high salaries and perks.
NSW
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Foreign interference in Australian university research is being “taken seriously” by the federal government despite revelations China has recruited top Australian scientists with high salaries and perks.
Dozens of researchers have been recruited to a Chinese Government program called the Thousand Talents Plan, with many named in Chinese patent applications, The Australian has reported.
Despite the alarming reports Education Minister Dan Tehan hit back at any suggestion the government was not adequately supporting universities to protect from foreign interference.
Mr Tehan said the Australian Research Council (ARC) has been working with key national security agencies to strengthen oversight for government funded research.
“The Morrison Government established the University Foreign Interference Taskforce and I have announced the creation of a new integrity unit that will sit within TEQSA with a remit to identify and analyse emerging threats to the quality of higher education and to assist the sector to address them across academic and research integrity, cyber security, foreign interference and admission standards,” he said.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said it was important international research collaborations were carefully balanced against Australia’s national interests, including our national security, values and ethical standards.
“It is critical that the work of Australian researchers is not undermined by foreign interference and activities that put our universities’ people, information, intellectual property and data at risk,” he said.
A recent report on the 1000 Talents Plan by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) called “Hunting the Phoenix,” included a list of recommendations for governments to “promote transparency” and help manage “conflicts of interest”.
“Develop recommendations for universities and other research institutions to tackle talent-recruitment activity,” the report said.
“This can draw on the Guidelines to counter foreign interference in the Australian university sector developed by a joint government and university sector taskforce on foreign interference.”
Extremely valuable COVID-19 vaccine studies are the latest target of potential foreign thieves, with the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) revealing it has been working with the nation’s medical researchers and scientists to protect their vital research.
ASIO director-general Mike Burgess told the ABC there was “great interest” in medical breakthroughs that was sometimes done through “covert means”.
“That is on the rise,” he said.
“We are very much attuned to that and we and others in the community have been active in helping the research institutions understand that’s possible.
“Where we see things happening, together we are helping them deal with it.”