Australia cracks down on university meddling

Australia has formed a task force to crack down on attempts by foreign governments to meddle in Australian universities.

The move comes as concerns grow over Chinese influence at Australia’s universities, where Chinese students are by far the largest group of foreign students. Pro-Beijing student demonstrators have recently clashed with Hong Kong democracy advocates on Australian campuses.

Australia has also raised concerns about the influence of Beijing-funded Confucius Institutes at Australian universities.

Education Minister Dan Tehan said the task force will comprise half university staff and half government agency officials.

“Our Government is taking action to provide clarity at the intersection of national security, research, collaboration and a university’s autonomy,” Tehan said.

“Universities also understand the risk to their operations and to the national interest from cyber attacks and foreign interference and we are working constructively to address it.”

The task force includes a cyber security working group to better protect university networks against unauthorised access and damage.

The Australian Cyber Security Centre, an intergovernmental cyber security agency, has said Australian universities are increasingly attractive targets for cyberattacks because of their research across a range of fields and the intellectual property that the research generated.

The new task force will also include a research and intellectual property working group to protect academic freedom, intellectual property and safeguard universities against deception and undue influence.

A foreign collaboration working group would ensure collaborations with foreign entities would be transparent and avoid harming Australia’s interests.

A culture and communication working group would foster a positive security culture.

The move comes a year after the Government angered China by banning covert foreign interference in Australian politics.

Foreign political donations have also been banned.

Organisations and individuals who are operating in Australia on behalf of a foreign government or a foreign political organisation have had to register under the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme since December.