Australia to ban foreign financing in politics, fearing China’s influence

Almaty. December 5. Silkroadnews - Australia will ban foreign financing in the field of politics, fearing China’s influence, South China Morning Post reports.
“Australia, concerned about rising Chinese influence, will ban foreign political donations as part of a crackdown aimed at preventing external interference in domestic politics, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Tuesday,” report reads.
Turnbull explained, foreign powers are making “unprecedented and increasingly sophisticated attempts to influence the political process” in Australia and the world. He cited alarming reports about the influence of China.
Australia and its neighbor New Zealand are among the countries allowing political parties to receive foreign donations, while in the US, UK and some European countries such donations are prohibited.
The new Australian laws, partially designed similar to the US Foreign Agent Registration Act, criminalize foreign interference and require the registration of foreign lobbyists.
The decision to introduce new laws was influenced by concern that Beijing could expand its influence, whereas the relationship between Australian politicians and the interests of the Chinese government has become increasingly controversial.
Fairfax Media and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported in June on China’s agreed campaign to penetrate Australian politics to promote Chinese interests. Beijing has denied these claims. Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China does not intend to interfere in the internal affairs of Australia or use political funding to influence.
“At the same time, we want to again urge Australia to remove their biases and take an objective and positive attitude to assess China and its relations with Australia,” he added.
The new laws, if passed by the parliament, would ban foreign donations to political parties or any political group that has spent more than A$100,000 ($76,350) on its campaigns over the past four years. The new law may also extend to environmental and other electoral groups.
The definitions of treason and espionage would also be broadened in accordance with the new laws to include possessing or receiving confidential information, rather than just transmitting it.