The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has tabled the report of its Review of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 27 March 2024

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) today tabled the report of its review of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018. The Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme (FITS) was established to provide the public with visibility of the nature, level and extent of foreign influence on Australia’s government and politics. The scheme creates an obligation for people and organisations who undertake certain activities on behalf of a ‘foreign principal’ (a foreign government or political party, or a related entity or individual) to be listed on a public register. During the inquiry, the scheme was criticised for its limited effectiveness in achieving its intended transparency outcomes. The Committee noted with concern the low number of registrations and minimal compliance and enforcement activity during the six years since the scheme was established. Mr Peter Khalil MP, Chair of the PJCIS, said “The Committee was satisfied that the scheme’s objective of shining a light on both legitimate and malign foreign influence activities in our society remains worthwhile and necessary.” “Nevertheless, given the significant flaws in the scheme, the Committee considers that substantial reform is required if the FITS is to meet its original intent and justify the compliance burden and resources required to administer it.” The Committee’s bipartisan report makes 14 recommendations to improve the scheme and its administration, including by amending the current FITS Act to: Update key components of the definition of ‘foreign principal’, including to capture a wider range of company, governance and management structures that can enable a foreign principal to exert control over an entity. Review all current and potential exemptions to the scheme to ensure they are operating as intended and are not being exploited for the purpose of covert malign influence. Insert new enforcement options into the scheme, including the ability for the Secretary of the Department to register a person who is liable to register but has failed to do so. The Committee has also recommended that the Government review the resourcing of the administering department of the FITS to ensure both the level and capacity of its staffing is sufficient. The Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme is distinct from, but sits alongside, the framework for combatting espionage and foreign interference in Australia. The Committee has recommended that Australia’s espionage and foreign interference laws should also be referred to it for review. 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.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security will hear evidence tomorrow from a range of expert witnesses for the Review of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018.

Media release issue date: Monday, 20 February 2023

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security will hear evidence tomorrow from a range of expert witnesses for the Review of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018. The Committee will hear from a range of witnesses, including former Prime Minister the Hon Malcolm Turnbull AC, Ms Katherine Mansted from the ANU Security College, Mr Alex Joske, and Australian universities and higher education representative bodies. The Committee will also hear from key government agencies: ASIO, the Department of Home Affairs and the Attorney-General’s Department. “The Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme (FITS) is the first pillar of sunlight in Australia’s framework for countering foreign interference. The FITS allows for public scrutiny of legitimate influence activities that foreign governments or entities might be conducting in Australia, or through the activities of Australians.” PJCIS Chair Mr Peter Khalil MP said.   “The Committee has received mixed evidence regarding the operation, effectiveness and implications of the Scheme since it commenced in 2018. This public hearing will allow the PJCIS to hear from affected entities, as well as expert witnesses regarding the grey area that exists between foreign influence and foreign interference, and whether the FITS is operating as the transparency spotlight it is intended to be. The Committee will then test that evidence with the Attorney-General’s Department as the Department that administers the FITS.” Mr Khalil said. Further information on the review and the FITS Act can be obtained from the Committee’s website.           Public Hearing Details Tuesday, 21 February 2023 10.45 am–4:45 pm (AEDT) Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra A program for the hearing can be found here and the hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Media inquiries Chair, Mr Peter Khalil MP via Laura Adams, 0481 393 341 Laura.Adams@aph.gov.au For background information Please contact the Committee Secretariat 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 its review into the operation, effectiveness and implications of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018.

Media release issue date: Friday, 6 August 2021

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced its review into the operation, effectiveness and implications of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018. The Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme was introduced in 2018 with the purpose of bringing transparency to activities undertaken on behalf of foreign principals, particularly where those activities are intended to influence Australian political and governmental systems and processes. The Scheme also imposes obligations on former politicians and senior officials, and criminal penalties apply to those who fail to comply with the requirements of the Scheme. The Committee requests submissions to the inquiry by Monday 29 November 2021. Prospective submitters are advised that any submission to the Committee’s inquiry must be prepared solely for the inquiry and should not be published prior to being accepted by the Committee. Further information about making a submission to a committee inquiry can be found at the following link. Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the Committee’s website. Media inquiries: Chair, Senator James Paterson via Deborah Seccombe, 0451 255 891 or deborah.seccombe@aph.gov.au For background information:  Committee Secretariat, Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, (02) 6277 2360 or 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 Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.