The Albanese Government has strengthened and streamlined Australia’s Foreign Arrangements Scheme, with legislation passing the Parliament today to help ensure arrangements are consistent with Australia’s national interest.
The reforms modernise the Scheme, which provides Commonwealth oversight of arrangements entered into by states, territories, local governments and public universities with foreign entities.
The changes more clearly embed the national interest in legislation, improve risk management, and streamline notification requirements. They also capture evolving forms of international engagement, such as arrangements involving overseas campuses of Australian universities.
The reforms implement the recommendations from the 2025 independent review of the Scheme led by Rosemary Huxtable AO PSM.
The Government recognises concerns regarding researcher-to-researcher collaboration and will require universities to have appropriate policies and processes in place to identify, monitor and manage associated risks.
For the first time, universities will be legally required to assess whether research projects could adversely affect the national interest or be inconsistent with Australia’s foreign policy.
The Albanese Government has been consistently clear that universities must play their role in managing risks and this reform will help ensure they do so.
Australia is strongly committed to international education and research cooperation that is consistent with our foreign policy.
These reforms will help keep Australia open to the world while appropriately managing risk and protecting our national interest.
