Last night the Government released its response to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security’s report on foreign interference and national security risks in higher education and research, tabled before last year’s election (CMM March 28 2022).
What the Government likes
Of 27 recommendations in the comprehensive report the government supports 12, supports in principle nine and notes five.
Key government responses include,
* noting a recommendation for disclosure of funding and agreements governing Confucius Institute’s at universities and pointing to the foreign minister’s oversight authority
* supporting a recommendation for students (who fear surveillance by their home government) to be able to submit assignments anonymously
* supporting in principle investigating the adequacy of existing penalties for research institutions, “who are failing to detect or respond to any breaches” of Australian Research Council rules
* supporting a recommendation for universities to individually appoint “an accountable authority” responsible for managing foreign interference risk
* supporting creation of a working group on intimidation of students, but the government only noted a proposal for universities to publish annual reports of harassment, intimidation and censorship because, “it can be difficult to establish foreign interference as the motivating factor.”
Only one committee recommendation is “not supported,” a recommendation that ASIO’s annual report include information on threats to higher education and research.
And the Tertiary Education and Quality Standards Agency had a lucky escape from the committee’s recommendation that it create a national research integrity office to audit and publicly report on security issues. The government “notes” this saying such work is “being pursued “ but warns of possible “unintended and undue reputational impacts” by reporting.
And it’s thanks to UFIT
All up the government’s response is positive for universities, which should be grateful to former education minister Dan Tehan, who was instrumental in establishing the Universities Foreign Interference Taskforce, in 2019, (CMM November 15 2019).
The committee report acknowledged the work of UFIT as does the government.
Reaction
Last night PJCIS chair during the report, Senator James Paterson (Lib- Victoria) welcomed the government’s response.
“Australia has made great progress in recent years hardening our systems and society against foreign interference and the higher education sector is now better equipped to protect our interests and safeguard our values.”
As did the Group of Eight, some members of which were closely scrutinised by the committee.
“Protecting our research from foreign interference is a shared responsibility and never a case of ‘job done’ and we support various compliance, reporting and transparency measures to ensure we protect that which must be protected,” Chief Executive Vicki Thomson said.
And the Australian Technology Network called the Government’s response to the report “measured and proportionate.”
“ATN will continue to help protect our important teaching, research and community engagement by working through UFIT and with the Government, Executive Director Luke Sheehy said.