Australia’s foreign scrutiny law will irk Beijing

Significance

The bill comes as the federal government is increasingly concerned about Chinese political and economic influence in Australia; Beijing has criticised Canberra in recent months and introduced economic strictures.

Impacts

• Universities could lose research partnerships, especially with China, and some foreign academics.
• Infrastructure investment could suffer, including the Victoria government’s deal to partake in China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
• The federal government seems to have a secondary agenda for the reforms, to weaken the powers of the eight states and territories.