Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Amendment Bill 2026

Katy Gallagher

I move:

That this bill be now read a first time.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

Sue Lines

I will now deal with the Committee of the Whole amendment circulated by the government. I understand the minister has a document to table.

Katy Gallagher

I table a supplementary explanatory memorandum relating to the government amendment to be moved to this bill.

Sue Lines

The question is that the amendment on sheet AD128 be agreed to.

Government's circulated amendment—

(1) Page 40 (after line 3), at the end of the Bill, add:

Division 5 — Foreign research projects

Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Act 2020

95 After Division 6 of Part 5

Insert:

Division 6A — Foreign research projects

55A Requirement in relation to foreign research projects

(1) An Australian university must maintain policies and procedures for:

(a) identifying research projects conducted by researchers employed or engaged by the Australian university with researchers employed or engaged by foreign entities; and

(b) assessing whether such research projects:

(i) adversely affect, or are likely to adversely affect, Australia's national interest; or

(ii) are, or are likely to be, inconsistent with Australia's foreign policy; and

(c) managing risks identified through those assessments.

(2) The Australian university must take reasonable steps to implement the policies and procedures.

(3) In this section:

Australian university means a university that is a State/Territory entity under paragraph 7(e).