The government has passed legislation to terminate the Russian Federation’s lease on a piece of Australian land – just next to Parliament House.
The Australian Government is taking swift action based on specific advice concerning a proposed Russian construction site located close to Parliament House. The potential for interference has raised serious national security concerns. “We were dealing with this very specifically,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated. He further explained that after convening a National Security Committee meeting on 31st May, they sought advice on how to terminate the lease.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed he would move legislation to block the lease agreement for Russia’s second embassy on the land at Yarralumla on Thursday morning.
“This action follows the conclusion of long-running litigation regarding the site,” he told reporters in Canberra.
“The government has received very clear security advice as to the risk presented by a new Russian presence so close to Parliament House. We are acting quickly to ensure the lease site does not become a formal diplomatic presence.”
FWIW – The site of the proposed new Russian embassy is about 500 metres from the Senate chamber and about 600 metres from the ministerial wing. pic.twitter.com/XliSUm0Lds
— Michael Mazengarb (@MichaelM_ACT) June 14, 2023
While the Prime Minister condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he stressed the move was not to block Moscow’s presence in Canberra altogether.
“Russia does have a diplomatic presence here and that will continue at its existing premises in Griffith. Just as Australia has a diplomatic presence in Moscow,” he said.
“This is not about changing that, this is about the specific risk presented by this site and that is why we are taking this action.”
Russia was granted approval to build a new embassy on the block of land in 2011 to replace its ageing Griffith facility in 2011. But years of delays and inaction led to the National Capital Authority to issue an eviction order last year.
But last month, the Federal Court ruled the eviction notice was invalid.
The legislation passed both houses of parliament in just over an hour on Thursday morning, with the support of the Coalition and the crossbench. ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr was also briefed.
Mr Albanese said the legislation has support of the parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman
“I thank them for the expeditious passing of (the legislation),” he said.
The Prime Minister said it will now await the response from the Russian government.
“We don’t expect that Russia’s in a position to talk about international law, given their rejection of it so consistently and so brazenly with their invasion of Ukraine and the atrocities that have occurred, that are occurring on an ongoing basis,” he said.
Asked if the government had received advice about the proximity of the Chinese embassy, which is located in the same area as the proposed Russian facility, Mr Albanese did not say.
“We’re dealing with this very specifically and it’s based upon very specific advice as well about the nature of the construction that’s proposed for this site,” he said.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said the land would not be used for “future diplomatic presence”, identifying its proximity to Parliament House as the issue.
“The principal problem with the proposed second Russian embassy in Canberra is its location,” she said, citing “clear security advice”.
“We will work through the options for this very important specific piece of land that, as I say, is literally directly next to the parliament.”