Language key to cut off China influence, says Alan Tudge

An alarming increase in foreign interference now poses a threat to Australia’s social ­cohesion, Population Minister Alan Tudge has warned.

Population Minister Alan Tudge: ‘I am particularly concerned about the reach of some foreign actors into our multicultural communities.’ Picture: Martin Ollman

An alarming increase in foreign interference now poses a threat to Australia’s social ­cohesion, with the Chinese Communist Party actively stoking anti-Australian views in the diaspora community, Population Minister Alan Tudge has warned.

In a move to counter the threat, the government will ­dramatically expand its $1bn ­program of English-language courses for new migrants to cover all established ethnic communities, with evidence that those with poor English skills are more vulnerable to foreign influence.

In a speech to the National Press Club on Friday, Mr Tudge will reveal a government plan for a new Australian and democratic values test for citizenship amid concerns the social fabric of the nation is being undermined.

“I am particularly concerned about the reach of some foreign actors into our multicultural communities,” Mr Tudge will say.

While not singling out Beijing directly, the government believes interference in ethnic Chinese communities in Australia as running rife. “Members of our diverse communities have been both victims of interference and used as vectors to engage in foreign interference,” Mr Tudge said. “Despite now being proud Australians, some communities are still seen by their former home countries as ‘their diaspora’ — to be harassed or exploited to further the ­national cause.

“Some who criticise their former country are silenced through threats and intimidation, including to family members back in their country of heritage.

“Others are persuaded or forced to monitor or harass members of their own community who may hold views contrary to those of the governing regimes in their former countries.

“Foreign actors have multiple objectives, but one is to seek to grow division in our society by pushing people away from Australia and placing their loyalties elsewhere. They seek to sow distrust in government and institutions. Further, malign information or propaganda can be spread through multicultural media, including foreign-language media controlled or funded by state players. This can be particularly influential if local residents’ English is poor and hence they are more reliant on foreign-language sources.”

Mr Tudge, while warning of a potential breakdown of social ­cohesion in Melbourne due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, identified foreign interference by governments as posing a longer term and more acute threat to the multicultural fabric of the nation.

He said poor English-language skills exposed migrants to exploitation and flagged significant changes to the Adult ­Migrant English Program.

Mr Tudge said the government had no intention of returning to controversial citizenship legislation which sought to enforce tougher English-language standards but was shelved in 2018.

However, it would seek to ­introduce a significant expansion of English-language training.

“Without English-language skills, migrants are less likely to get a job, less likely to integrate, and less likely to participate in our democracy,” he said. “This is a billion dollar program, but it is presently not having a sufficient impact. It currently provides ­migrants 510 hours of free language tuition (with a very small number eligible for up to 1090 hours), but, on average, people only complete 300 hours of ­classes and only 21 per cent leave with a functional level of English.

“The government will lift the cap on class hours and remove the time limits. From today, this means that any permanent resident or citizen who doesn’t yet have functional English — that is, the basic language skills to enable participation in society — will be able to attend classes free of charge until they acquire this language capability.”

He said the government would also “place a greater emphasis on Australian citizenship, encouraging people to take it up and educating people about what it means to declare one’s loyalty to our nation and its people”.