The Australian Government has released updated guidelines that will assist universities’ in strengthening their resilience against foreign interference risks while protecting students, staff and research that contribute to the country’s prosperity.
The guidelines, which will assist universities in better identifying and responding to the risk of foreign interference, was updated to address how foreign interference threats have evolved since the initial guidelines were released in 2019.
Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews said that, although espionage and foreign interference posed a challenge to Australia’s democracy, the Australian Government would continue to protect the country’s institutions.
“These updated guidelines are more important than ever – with international students set to return to many Australian jurisdictions soon, we need to ensure our University campuses embody the free, open, transparent debate that is so vital to an Australian education, and to our way of life,” Minister Andrews said.
“The guidelines will protect universities, students and researchers from hostile foreign actors and intelligence services; who have been known to target sensitive research, muzzle debate, and intimidate foreign students.”
Meanwhile, Minister for Education and Youth Alan Tudge explained that the updated guidelines are more specific and measurable in order to help support greater consistency of actions to counter foreign interference across the country’s university sector.
“Australia is home to some of the world’s leading academics who are producing world-class research. These guidelines will ensure our researchers are protected,” Minister Tudge said.
“We have seen that Australian universities are a target for foreign interference with foreign actors using sophisticated and deceptive means to steal Australian research and intellectual property.”
Minister Tudge also stressed that since the Australian Government takes research integrity very seriously, the updated guidelines will help continue to prevent efforts to steal information and interfere in the country’s universities.
Source: Minister for Education and Youth Media Release