Described by the government as the most significant review in 40 years, it will take 18 months and will be lead by a former head of the country’s intelligence agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO).
Although it wasn’t expressly mentioned in the announcement, the review comes at a time when concerns are rising in Australia over the influence of the Chinese government in the country’s affairs.
“This is not a theoretical proposition; the reality is that acts of espionage and foreign interference are occurring against Australian interests both in Australia and overseas,” he told a senate committee on May 24.
Rory Medcalf, head of the National Security College at the Australian National University, told CNN the big three security risks facing Australia, which the new review would partly address, are terrorism, cyberwarfare and foreign influence.
He said Australia was still in the “early stage” of its debate over foreign influence. “This is about having contemporary laws … we will need to protect Australia’s sovereignty in a more competitive and uncertain future,” he said.
‘The Australian people stand up’
The new review follows a series of tough, new anti-foreign influence laws currently being debated by the Australian government, including a ban on all political donations from overseas.
Turnbull has since said the proposed laws are not targeted at any one country, but the Chinese government has reacted coldly to the legislation.
“It is in China’s interest to stir up the impression that it’s not acceptable for countries to introduce such laws … there is a soft power game going on,” he said.
‘Substantial problems with interference’
In the past two months two former US officials have voiced concerns about the level of Chinese influence in its Antipodean allies.
“Australia and New Zealand both face substantial problems with interference by the Chinese Communist Party. In both cases, the CCP has gotten very close to or inside the political core, if you will, of both countries,” Mattis told the commission.
The arrangement, known as Five Eyes, is an intelligence sharing deal between the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
“Experts are sounding the alarm about Chinese efforts to gain political power and influence policy decisions … It’s just getting started,” she told the audience.
Source : Nbcnewyork
