Inquiry into national security risks affecting the Australian higher education and research sector

March 2022

© Commonwealth of Australia 2022
ISBN: 978-1-76092-252-8

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Terms of Reference

Members

Abbreviations

List of Recommendations

1. Introduction

  Committee process
  Report Structure
  Subjects covered in this report
  Related current or recent inquiries and reports

2. Prevalence, characteristics and significance of the national security risks

  The Australian Higher Education and research sector
  The importance of international collaboration and research
  Importance of international engagement by the sector
  Importance of the sector in advancing Australian interests and soft power opportunities
  The sector as a target
  Legislation and definitions of key concepts
  National security risks identified in the sector
  Threat actors

3. The Sector's awareness of national security risks

  General awareness of national security risks
  Specific awareness of particular national security risks
  The Sector’s capacity to identify and respond to national security risks
  Who is best placed to address the risks?

4. Adequacy and effectiveness of Australian Government policies and programs

  National security legislation: Espionage and foreign interference
  Defence processes, programs and sanctions
  University Foreign Interference Taskforce (UFIT)
  Australian Research Council grant processes
  Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) processes and Model Code implementation
  Critical technologies and areas of threat
  Adequacy of communication and engagement between the Australian Government and the sector

5. Responses to this issue in other countries and their relevance to the Australian situation

  United Kingdom
  United States
  Canada
  Other countries

6. Committee comment

  Four headline recommendations
  The importance of the sector
  The sector’s awareness of the national security risks
  National security risks in the sector
  Government policies and legislation

A. List of submissions

B. Witnesses appearing at public hearings

Committee Secretariat contact:

Committee Secretary
Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security
PO Box 6021
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6277 2360
pjcis@aph.gov.au