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Now that the heavyweight bill is in operation, which Chinese and community organizations in Australia need to be registered?! Here's the answer.

 
[Current News]     21 Mar 2019
After the (FITS) passed the Act in December 2018, many Chinese people and associations in Australia began to worry about whether the bill was aimed at themselves or not.

After the (FITS) passed the Act in December 2018, many Chinese people and associations in Australia began to worry about whether the bill was aimed at themselves or not.

Will your own association, participation in politics, business and so on be affected?

Now that the heavyweight bill is in operation, which Chinese and community organizations in Australia need to be registered?! Here's the answer.

Although the Australian defence industry minister Christopher Pyne denies that the law is targeted at China or "any specific country", it still causes panic about the bill in the Australian Chinese community.

Now that the heavyweight bill is in operation, which Chinese and community organizations in Australia need to be registered?! Here's the answer.

The bill will be nearly four months from now, but many people still don`t understand what they say or do, do they need to "register" their own activities?

To this end, the Australian Federal Department of Law and the Victoria Australia China Community Council have come to Melbourne for an on-the-spot solution to let you know what to say and do in Australia that need to be registered.


Only "four conditions" meet the need to register! Australia`s government requires transparency of information and does not seek to stop it.

At 5 p.m., March 21, the Australian Federal Department of Law and the Victoria Australia-China Community Council held their first information session in Melbourne at the Ocean Arts Center.

Now that the heavyweight bill is in operation, which Chinese and community organizations in Australia need to be registered?! Here's the answer.

The participants were heads of various Melbourne associations, several Chinese media outlets, representatives of the Chinese students` Union at the two state universities of Vita, representatives of Confucius Institutes, and so on. ABC`s Chinese-American journalist, the mainstream Australian media, also focused on the event.

Now that the heavyweight bill is in operation, which Chinese and community organizations in Australia need to be registered?! Here's the answer.

The keynote speakers, Lucinda Atkinson and Jaan-Clare Witcombe, made it clear from the outset that it was hoped that everyone present would understand that foreign influence was not entirely a bad thing for Australia`s government, and that the bill was not intended to stop normal exchanges between these different countries. Just want to preserve Australia`s democracy, but also to communicate transparently, so that Australian politicians can have a basis and make smarter judgments.

But the problem is that Australia`s politics are still worried about being influenced by foreign powers, which is a very important thing for Australia. So want to implement this bill without trying to hurt any of them.

It`s not about making a blacklist, it`s not about stopping people from doing what they want to do, let alone violating freedom of association.

Even applying for registration will not affect the possibility of any activity or organization. The bill requires any organization or individual to register only if all four of the requirements are met

Represents any foreign entity that is not native to Australia.

Has the purpose of influencing Australian politics.

Engage in political lobbying, media activities, economic spending activities.

No immunity.

All of the above four requirements need to be met at the same time in order to apply for registration.

If you need to hold any similar activity, you can apply for registration within 14 days after the date of the event (Chinese application service is also available).


02 collect eight questions of concern to the Chinese Society in advance and answer them one by the Department of Law

Before the lecture began, the Victoria Australia and China Community Council had conducted an investigation into the Chinese community in the Victoria region, sorting out the eight questions that everyone was most concerned about and most often confused, and handed it to representatives of the Department of Law to give answers on the spot.

What kind of behavior and activities are considered to require registration?

Let`s hear the live story.

Q: what kind of person would be regarded as a "foreign representative"? Will it be considered a "problem" to chat with Australian government-related people in a social setting? How can Australia`s government ensure that people`s freedom of association rights is not affected by this law?

A: first of all, the definition of representation is that the organization of the personal Representative is an activity carried out in Australia under the leadership of a foreign government body.

For example: for example, a group of international students, in order to promote cultural exchanges between the two countries, they wrote to the relevant minister. This is not assigned by another government, organization, such a similar act does not require registration.

But if they get economic support from other countries, or other support, or are used to vote for voters, etc., give the press the impression that change voters need to register. However, activities after registration will not be affected in any way.

In addition, chatting with Australian government-related people in social settings will not be a problem as long as it does not involve lobbying or influencing political purposes. Australia`s government will still ensure that everyone`s association with freedom of speech rights.


Q: national Day celebrations: such as the National Day celebrations of the people`s Republic of China or other Southeast Asian countries. These celebrations are funded by the country of origin. Do these celebrations require registration?

A: no, as long as the event does not involve any agreements and policy-making, the celebration simply does not need to be registered. But registration is required if certain agreements are reached or signed on occasions, or have political implications for Australia.


Q: Australia has many different multicultural associations. As an institution that promotes Australian multiculturalism and does not receive any foreign government funding, can Australia only enrol citizen?

A: this Act applies to any group of people in Australia such as citizen, permanent residence, temporary residence, student visa, travel and so on. So there will be no restrictions, except for the conditions mentioned above, and these multicultural activities will be strongly supported by Australia`s government.


Q: there is a reference in the Act to "the need to register on behalf of a foreign client in Australia on the basis of the content of the activity and personal responsibility." In many cases, however, events may be organized with the assistance of plural groups, such as associations. Does this mean that every member of the association needs to be registered? Or is it just the person in charge who needs to register?

A: both individuals and organizations can be registered, in which case it is only necessary to register the organization. Especially high-ranking political and former political figures need to be registered in their personal capacity.


Q: can you give examples of "subjects related to foreign government" and "individuals associated with foreign government"?

A: for example, there are currently 24 companies registered on the website, one of which is listed in Australia with 67% of its shares in Norwegian government, so he is the main body associated with foreign government, or a central enterprise such as PetroChina. It has also been registered.

As long as you are a non-Australian national, a non-PR, and are fully employed by an organization of government or related background in other countries and carry out any activities in Australia, the personal part of the foreign government is included.

Now that the heavyweight bill is in operation, which Chinese and community organizations in Australia need to be registered?! Here's the answer.

(currently registered companies can be consulted on the official website)


Q: can you give an example of the type of activity that needs to be registered at the moment?

A: there are currently four types of activities that need to be registered.

The first is direct political lobbying of the federal government, such as meeting with federal lawmakers to lobby policy. People attending such meetings need to apply, but not the people who arrange the meetings. As long as you do political lobbying on behalf of a country, apply no matter how many times.

Second, general political lobbying, if you write to a federal congressman on behalf of a foreign government, suggests that everything needs to be registered. (including federal candidates)

Third, media activities, if on behalf of foreign government agents to write some articles for the media, express their views, and the purpose of writing articles is to influence policy, but also need to register. If you just express your point of view, there is no problem.

The fourth, has an impact on Australian political or government purpose economic spending activities.


Q: many Australian associations aim to contact their friends in the mainland and Australia. Some of them are engaged in trade between China and Australia, and the Association will have business information with the local government in China. Will registration be required for this kind of behavior?.

A: no, it`s fine if all the information is business-oriented.


Q: when the chairman of an association is appointed as an overseas adviser to China`s government (mainly provincial or local government), its main purpose is to serve as a bridge for social and cultural ties and exchanges. Do such consultants / associations need to be registered?

A: no, but if the overseas consultant is asked to do anything that meets the four requirements on behalf of the local government, registration is required.


03 Live QA question, do I need to register or not?

Of course, everyone`s doubts and worries about this Bill may not be able to give a complete answer to these eight questions. Therefore, in the second half of the event, questions are also open to all present, and representatives of the Department of Justice also give answers one by one.

Here are the questions and answers:

Q if my personal opinion is published and disseminated in the Australian community, but it is the same as the opinion of the foreign government, how can I judge this?

A We will not prohibit personal opinions, so as long as you do not meet the above four criteria, you do not need to register, but even if registered, it will not affect your freedom of speech, can still be published.


Q We Chinese will invite Australian politicians or former Australian politicians to come to the scene to become consultants and write congratulatory letters on many occasions. Will these politicians need to be registered?.

A it is not necessary to register for a simple presence or congratulations.


Q I support this law very much and also understand the concerns of Australia`s government. But we all know that this campaign, in Victoria, new state, Canberra, is mainly aimed at the Chinese community, do you think these activities are not suitable?

Why not go to the American immigrant community? Why not go to the Greek immigrant community? Why not go to the Italian immigrant community to preach?

Is government in Australia sceptical about the loyalty and belonging of the 200-year-old Chinese immigrant to the Commonwealth government? Does Australia`s government mistranslate fear of big powers into suspicion of its own people?

A I don`t think I can answer these questions on my behalf, but I can assure you that this bill is fair to everyone, and I understand everyone`s concern, but I am here to convey this message.


Q there are many Chinese-run media in Australia, sometimes there are advertisements from the mainland, involving money transactions, do we need to register these content?

A if the content is unrelated to Australia`s political implications, it does not require registration, on the contrary, it does.


Q if I am dissatisfied with the political situation or political figures in Australia, will I be regarded as having an impact on the political situation in Australia if I write an article attacking or criticizing it?

A as long as you are not required to write these articles by the government of other countries, you do not need to register.


Q how do you choose which Chinese community to target and how do you assign attention to the activities of different ethnic groups?

A once again, we have not established any position, not against any community, not against a single race.


Q I have seen that the penalties for breaching this Act are very serious and may face criminal penalties of up to seven years. Is it necessary?

A the severe punishment is directed at those who knowingly and knowingly conceal it and, after our flexible persuasion but disregarding it, we will refer it to another relevant department.


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At the end of the event, journalist also interviewed several live friends and asked them what they thought of the information session.

Now that the heavyweight bill is in operation, which Chinese and community organizations in Australia need to be registered?! Here's the answer.

In an interview with former Victoria State`s multicultural vice president, Labour MP Lin Mei-Fung, he said that the bill was a great harm to Chinese Australians. This disturbing phenomenon has existed since the beginning of immigration in Australia. And now he`s back.

He thinks that Australia`s government is now blindly following the footsteps of Trump of the United States. When the United States says to jump, Australia asks how high it is to jump, the United States says to roll, and Australia asks how far to roll. This is really chilling. Australia will think that we are Chinese, will help China government to conquer Australia, this is ridiculous! On the other hand, the Chinese themselves are not United enough to gather together. In the face of the threat, no one has come forward to say that this is wrong.

Ms. Sun Yanfang, from the Green Party, also said that many Chinese immigrants who came to Australia had abandoned a lot of Chinese things and were at ease living and developing in Australia. As a result, Australia now has to link Chinese immigrants to China. This makes the feelings of the Chinese immigrants can not be excruciating.

Now that the heavyweight bill is in operation, which Chinese and community organizations in Australia need to be registered?! Here's the answer.

A Chinese-American woman from Bararet said that as the fourth generation of Chinese immigrants, the main purpose of attending the information conference today is to serve her grandchildren and hope that the future of the Chinese will be brighter.

In an interview, the Monash Chinese student representative was helpless to say that the students came to Australia to study hard. In fact, they did not have much interest in Australian politics, let alone influence Australian politics. It`s too far from the students.

The interviewees, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the rules resulting from the bill were an impact, but how Australians and Australian politicians viewed them was another matter, and whether registration would make them more concerned about their interaction with the Chinese community. It all needs to be thought about.

Zhang Li, co-sponsor of the Victoria Australia and China Community Council, also said:

"when this proposal was discussed in Congress early last year, we in the Australian and Chinese Community Council were very worried. At that time, we wrote to the Federal government stating directly:" if this bill is passed, the most affected will be our Chinese community. In the face of the bill, the most bewildering will be the Chinese community! " Unfortunately, the bill was finally passed, and all we can do now is to help the Chinese community understand and abide by it and protect our community as much as possible. At the same time, we do not hesitate to continue to express to the Federal government our unease and discontent as Chinese. "

But on the other hand, a small number of people at the event thought the bill was very good, and there was no need to worry about it for Chinese in Australia.

Finally, the Australian website also includes the relevant website of the Bill and the Registration Application Channel. If you need more information, you can click on the original text to view: https://www.ag.gov.au/transparency.

If you want to know if you and your organization need to apply for registration, leave a message so that we can discuss it together. After all, this bill has something to do with you, me, him, all Chinese living in Australia, and even our children. It`s all about their future.

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