When PhD candidate Melody Zhao received a full scholarship to study data science in Australia she didn’t expect a year later she would still be in limbo, waiting for a visa. But after receiving her Deakin University offer and applying for a student visa on 23 February 2022, she has had to defer her degree four times. Zhao is among hundreds of Chinese postgraduate candidates in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) fields deemed a high security risk by the Department of Home Affairs and facing lengthy visa delays. Students…
Tag: Australian security and counter-terrorism
Australia news live: Albanese says he has confidence in Philip Lowe, Perrottet backs ban on gay conversion practices
From 48m ago Perrottet backs ban on gay conversion practices Tamsin Rose New South Wales is a step closer to banning so-called gay conversion therapy after the premier, Dominic Perrottet, said he would support legislation to end the damaging practices. He said: There is no room for any harmful practices in NSW, particularly if they affect our young and vulnerable. When the parliament returns, my government will provide in principle support for legislation that brings an end to any harmful practices. This is a complex matter and in working through…
Australia would spot any spy balloon over country, thinktank says, suggesting best way to down one
Australia’s radar network would be able to spot any spy balloon in its airspace, and a missile fired from a stealth fighter jet would be the most effective way to bring it down, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) says. The United States has downed four flying objects since 4 February, including a Chinese spy balloon with a payload the size of three buses. In January, that balloon – which China claimed was a weather balloon but US officials said was a surveillance craft – was spotted in US skies.…
Australian intelligence agency advised departmental discretion on using Chinese equipment 14 months ago
An Australian intelligence agency declared a year ago it was up to government departments whether to use equipment from Chinese companies Hikvision and Dahua, despite a new bipartisan push to remove such devices. The advice from the Australian Signals Directorate was published in late 2021, at a time when the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, was defence minister. This week the opposition called for action as it circulated new figures showing that at least 913 Hikvision and Dahua devices – including CCTV systems – were installed at more than 250 government…
Australia news live: treasurers to discuss cost-of-living crisis, no Chinese spy balloons over Australia, defence says
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Chinese-made security cameras to be removed from Australian government buildings
The federal government has committed to removing Chinese-made security cameras at government buildings across Australia, admitting there is a potential security problem that needs to be addressed. An audit of surveillance equipment, conducted by the shadow cybersecurity minister, James Paterson, has confirmed that more than 900 products built by Chinese companies Hikvision and Dahua are installed at government locations. The US and the UK have already banned these products at government locations, with the US Federal Communications Commission warning of an “unacceptable risk to national security” due to possible espionage…
Australian officials warned in 2021 about possible recruitment of ex-ADF members by Chinese military
Australian government officials were first warned a year and a half ago about alleged attempts to recruit former defence force personnel to train the Chinese military, the defence department has revealed. But it is unclear what action, if any, the then defence minister, Peter Dutton, took at the time. The current defence minister, Richard Marles, appeared to have been spurred into action when the issue hit the media about two months ago. Marles announced in mid-October he had asked his department to investigate claims that some Australian pilots may be…
Australia news live: Penny Wong flies home after China talks; Liberal brand ‘not fit for purpose’
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Australia news live: body found in search for missing teen; 26 January citizenship ceremonies no longer mandated for local councils
From 2h ago Immigration minister scraps rule forcing local councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day Local councils will no longer be forced to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, after Labor has reversed a Morrison government ruling. SBS’s Finn McHugh reports: Rules introduced in 2019 under then-prime minister Scott Morrison forced local governments to hold citizenship ceremonies on 26 January or be stripped of their right to conduct them. Mr Morrison at the time said compelling local councils to do so would stop them from “playing politics with…
Energy makes the headlines, but reset on diplomacy is Albanese’s real power play
For weeks, all eyes have been on soaring energy prices, and what the governments of Australia will do to give households and businesses relief. Governments answered part of the national water cooler question on Friday, agreeing to new price caps for coal and gas, and to rebates for people on low and middle incomes. The impact of the proposed price caps seems clear. Power bills will increase, but they will be lower than they otherwise would be in the absence of government intervention. Consumer rebates are still a bit of…