Parliamentary internships organized by the Australian National University are now open only to Australian students. (photo by Australian Financial Review)
Foreign college students have been banned from working in the federal congressman`s office, according to the Australian Financial Review. This is because some lawmakers are concerned that Chinese students may be able to come into contact with the information.
Under the new rules, congressional internships organized by the Australian National University (Australian National University) will be limited to Australian citizens, but lawmakers will still be able to offer internships or jobs to expatriates in an informal manner.
It is reported that the Australian National University offers a one-semester internship at the government Institution in Canberra for students majoring in political science, as well as students who are interested in public policy and taking credits in related courses.
In the face of fierce competition in the student market, the Australian National University is reputed to be the only university to offer federal congressional internship programs. "internships with members of Congress and senators` offices will be involved in a number of activities, including the formulation of national policy," the school`s website said.
However, the Australian Financial Review has learned that at a time when debates about China`s interference in Australian politics have continued, some lawmakers have raised concerns with Senate Speaker Ryan (Scott Ryan) and House Speaker Smith (Tony Smith). Fears that Chinese students could use this privilege to reach lawmakers or ministers` offices pose a potential risk.
Last year, the New Zealand Herald claimed that (Jian Yang), a New Zealand MP, had a short internship with the Australian Senate Foreign Affairs Committee (Australian Senate's foreign affairs committee) while studying at the Australian National University in 1994. Yang Jiangang left China for a year after teaching at a Chinese espionage school.
At present, both the Speaker of the Senate and the Australian National University have confirmed this new rule that limits the practice of college students.
A spokesman for Ryan said: "internships at the Capitol are limited to Australian citizens. "this is also true for other government sector internships offered to students by the Australian National University."
The school stated in the statement that the internship program was open to all Australian National University students, including international students, as long as they were able to meet the English requirements and the host`s requirements; however, the "Some host agencies do not allow non-Australian personnel to participate in their internship programs".
Michael Danby, a member of the Labour Party, who is keen to comment on China, welcomed the ban. "This is very sensitive, especially when the internships are listed as a "bonus" for all-out Chinese students at their own expense."
Davis (Malcolm Davis), a senior analyst at (Australian Strategic Policy Institute) at Australia`s Institute of Strategic Policy, also said those attending the Foreign Affairs and Defense departments must be Australian citizens and should be careful before allowing foreigners to reach behind-the-scenes news in Congress.
"Why should we give foreigners access to sensitive information that could be classified as congressional material?" Davis said.
