Australia`s Congress forbids overseas students from doing formal internships in federal congressmen`s offices because of concerns that Chinese students will be given access to behind-the-scenes materials, the Financial Review of Australia reported on Thursday.
Under the new law, internships in the Australian Parliament, organized by the Australian National University (ANU), will be limited to Australian citizens, although members of Parliament can still offer internships or work experience to foreigners on an informal basis.
The Australian National University offers college students a semester of internships at government in Canberra, as well as political science students and those who want to take public policy credits.
But in a competitive admissions market, the Australian National University claims to be the only one that offers internships in Australia`s Federal Parliament.
"interns have access to the offices of federal councillor and senator and participate in a range of activities that influence national policy making," its website said.
However, the Australian Financial Review learned that some members of Parliament had referred to Senator Ryan (Scott Ryan), President of the Senate, and Tony, Speaker of the House of Representatives
Smith) said it was worried that Chinese students would take advantage of the privilege to gain access to lawmakers and ministers` offices, amid intense debate over China`s interference with Australian politics.
Last year, New Zealand Herald obtained a document under the Free dissemination of Information Act, New Zealand Chinese member of Parliament Yang Jian (transliteration, Jian)
Yang held a short internship with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Australian Senate while studying at the Australian National University in 1994. It was just a year before he left China, and he was a lecturer at an intelligence school in China.
Senate Speaker Ryan and the Australian National University have confirmed new restrictions on internships for college students.
"Capitol internships are limited to Australian citizens. This is consistent with other government sector student internship programs at the Australian National University. " A spokesman for Senator Ryan said.
In a statement, the university said its internship program was open to all students at Australian national universities, including international students who met English language requirements and host agency requirements.
However, some sponsors do not allow non-Australian citizens to participate in their internship programs. The Australian National University accepts the host agency`s advice on the standards for their curriculum arrangements, and we strive to arrange students according to these standards. " The university says.
Danby (Michael Danby), a retiring Labour MP and prominent China commentator, welcomed the ban.
"I think it`s wise," he said, "especially if internships are promoted as a form of admissions to fully paid Chinese students."
Davis (Malcolm Davis), senior analyst at (Australian Strategic Policy Institute) at the Australian Institute for Strategic Policy Research, said that only Australian citizens could join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defence Forces before allowing foreigners from any country to visit the Capitol from behind the scenes. All should be careful.
"Why should we allow foreign citizen access to sensitive material, which could be classified in the Capitol?" He said。
The crackdown on foreign students follows last year`s cancellation by the Congressional Services Department of a permit requirement for foreign diplomats, including ambassadors, to move freely around the Capitol.
Last week, the Australian National University was hit by a cyber attack, believed to have come from Chinese hackers. Although the university has strong links to the defence and intelligence community, including secret military research programs, the university insists no information has been stolen.
