Changes make foreign influence bill workable: unis

Universities have backed the federal government’s changes to its bill to clamp down on foreign influence in Australia.

Universities have backed the federal government’s changes to its bill to clamp down on foreign influence in Australia, saying the proposed amendments were a “sensible way to make the scheme more workable”.

Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said the initial draft of the legislation would have put significant restrictions on the ability of researchers to collaborate with international colleagues.

It also could have impeded the ability of universities to help foreigners in Australia, such as international students or temporary migrant workers, in their dealings with Australian governments.

The Group of Eight universities agreed that the amendments were “a strong indication that the government has listened to our concerns and has recognised the need to support Australian universities and research”.

It also welcomed the decision of the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security to hold hearings on the amendments, which mean that ordinary international research collaborations or funding arrangements will not need to be registered under the requirements of the new legislation.