The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has endorsed Rules that allow sharing of information between administrators of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme and the Foreign Arrangements Scheme.

Media release issue date: Monday, 11 September 2023

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has endorsed Rules that allow sharing of information between administrators of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme (FITS) and the Foreign Arrangements Scheme (FAS). Committee Chair Mr Peter Khalil MP today presented to Parliament a report by statement on the Committee’s review of the Rules, made under subsection 53(2) of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018 (FITS Act). The new Rules authorise the Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department, which administers the FITS, to communicate FITS information to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), who are responsible for the FAS. The Committee agreed that streamlining interoperability between the two schemes was a legitimate and reasonable purpose for sharing FITS information with DFAT for the FAS. The Committee encouraged the Government to consider a legislative amendment to similarly allow sharing information in the other direction, from the FAS to the FITS. The Committee also urged administrators to take whatever measures they can to minimise the compliance burden on entities that may fall within both schemes. The Committee is undertaking a separate review of the FITS Act in its entirety, and looks forward to reporting to Parliament on that in due course. Further information on both inquiries can be obtained from the Committee’s website. Media inquiries: Chair Mr Peter Khalil MP, via Lachlan Hinds 0455 999 677 lachlan.t.hinds@aph.gov.au For background information:  Committee Secretariat, Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (02) 6277 2360 pjcis@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track this Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review of rules made under subsection 53(2) of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018 (FITS Act), relating to sharing information obtained under the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme (FITS).

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 26 July 2023

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review of rules made under subsection 53(2) of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018 (FITS Act), relating to sharing information obtained under the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme (FITS). Subsection 53(3) of the FITS Act requires the Committee to review rules made prescribing a new purpose for which information obtained under the FITS may be communicated to prescribed persons; and to report its comments and recommendations to each House of the Parliament before the end of the 15 sitting days’ disallowance period for that House. The new Rules amend the 2018 FITS Rules to authorise the Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department to communicate scheme information to the Minister and Department responsible for the Foreign Arrangements Scheme. The Foreign Arrangements Scheme is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). It requires State and Territory entities to notify the Minister for Foreign Affairs of pre-existing and prospective arrangements with foreign entities; and allows the Minister to cancel, vary or prevent an arrangement from proceeding if it is inconsistent with Australia's foreign policy or adversely affects Australia's foreign relations. A small number of entities may be within the scope of both the FITS and the Foreign Arrangements Scheme. In such cases, sharing information under the Rules would assist DFAT to administer the Foreign Arrangements Scheme and would improve the interoperability of the two schemes. The rules under review can be found at the following link - Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Amendment Rules 2023. Submissions to the Committee’s review are invited by Friday 11 August 2023. Further information about making a submission to a parliamentary committee is available here. Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the Committee's website. Media inquiries: Chair Mr Peter Khalil MP, via Lachlan Hinds 0455 999 677 lachlan.t.hinds@aph.gov.au For background information:  Committee Secretariat, Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (02) 6277 2360 pjcis@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track this Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.