Tasmania’s Antarctic deal with China could come under microscope under new laws

Tasmania’s agreement with China on Antarctic co-operation would be subject to PM Scott Morrison’s proposed laws to crackdown on foreign influence.

• How to cash in on $550 travel vouchers before they run out
• Tony Fletcher was a man of ‘great wisdom’
• Why Mercury readers need to use our updated app

TASMANIA’S agreement with China on Antarctic co-operation would be subject to Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s proposed laws to crackdown on foreign influence.

The Prime Minister is seeking new powers that would allow the Foreign Affairs Minister to review any existing or proposed arrangements between states, local councils and universities with foreign governments – and to terminate or block them if they are against Australia’s national interests.

Scott Morrison during Question Time in the House of Representatives in Parliament House Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Tasmania’s 2014 agreement on Antarctic co-operation, which gives Chinese ships access to Hobart’s port and technical support, is one of the arrangements which would be subject to the laws.

Premier Peter Gutwein has indicated support for “anything that protects Australia’s interest and our citizens” but is seeking advice from the Department of Premier and Cabinet on the legislation.

“The Tasmanian government takes threats of foreign interference seriously and continues to work with the Commonwealth Government to take strong action to deter acts of foreign interference," he said.

Other states including South Australia have backed the proposal but Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, whose controversial Belt and Road agreement with China is a likely target of the laws, was scathing of Mr Morrison’s announcement.

Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong backed the laws but urged the federal government to do more to make Australia’s institutions more resilient.

Penny Wong at a Senate meeting. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“It’s fine to have the power to knock off a bad deal, but you know what’s even better, making sure people don’t enter into a bad deal in the first place because they know what they should do and what they shouldn’t do,” she said.

Universities Australia boss Catriona Jackson said more information was needed on “the exact definitions and scale of what the new laws are intended to capture”.

“It is critically important to strike the right balance between national security and the research collaboration which is driving so many advances in knowledge – including the search for a COVID-19 vaccine,” she said.