This bill is currently before Parliament.
Defence & foreign affairs
State, territory and local governments and public universities would have their foreign arrangements judged against Australia’s wider national interestAustralia’s security, economic and foreign-policy interests..
Matt Thistlethwaite (Australian Labor Party) said the Foreign Arrangements SchemeGovernment oversight of public bodies’ foreign deals. — government oversight of public bodies’ foreign deals — had received more than 22,000 notifications since 2020. He said growing international competition created new risks, including through links below the national-government level. The government said the 2025 independent review led by Rosemary Huxtable found the scheme was working but should focus more closely on higher risks and reduce paperwork for lower-risk arrangements. It also pointed to two proposed arrangements with Russian and Belarusian bodies that the government prohibited earlier in 2026.
Australia already had the Foreign Arrangements SchemeGovernment oversight of public bodies’ foreign deals. under the 2020 Foreign Relations Act, allowing the Commonwealth to oversee foreign arrangements made by state and territory bodies and other public institutions. After the 2025 Independent Review identified the need for clearer national-interest decisions and less burden on lower-risk arrangements, the government introduced this bill on 1 July 2026 through Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP to extend coverage, improve information sharing and give the minister more flexible approval powers.
The evidence pack contains no opposition, crossbench or other critical debate speech. Its only parliamentary contribution is Matt Thistlethwaite’s ministerial speech, reproduced twice, so no named criticism can be established from the supplied evidence.
Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP introduced this bill. Supportive speeches so far have come from Labor.
Did it become law?
Not yet
Final passage
No final vote yet
The bill has not yet completed passage through Parliament.
Days since introduction
37 days
Updated 07 Aug 2026.
Meaning
State, territory and local governments and public universities would have their foreign arrangements judged against Australia’s wider national interestAustralia’s security, economic and foreign-policy interests.. This includes security, economic and foreign-policy concerns.
Public bodies with foreign arrangements could be ordered to follow conditions set by the Foreign Minister. Conditions could apply when an arrangement is approved or later.
Government departments could receive information collected about foreign arrangements when it helps them perform their official work.
Australian universities would become responsible for foreign arrangements made by overseas campuses that award their degrees. A six-month transition period would apply.
Public bodies changing an approved high-risk arrangement would not need fresh approval for a minor change. They must notify the Minister at least 30 days beforehand.
Public bodies making lower-risk foreign arrangements would notify the Minister once, within 14 days after signing. They would no longer notify before signing.
Public bodies seeking approval for higher-risk arrangements could wait up to 60 days, up from 30 days. The Minister could extend the deadline once.
Australia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Act 2020 1 Paragraph 5(1)(a) Omit “foreign relations”, substitute “national interest”. 2 Paragraphs 17(2)(a) and 24(2)(a) Omit “foreign relations”, substitute “national interest”. 3 Subparagraphs 35(1)(c)(i), (d)(i) and 36(1)(c)(i) Omit “foreign relations”, substitute “national interest”. 4 Subparagraphs 40(1)(a)(i) and 45(1)(b)(i) Omit “foreign relations”, substitute “national interest”.Australia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Amendment introduced text
64 After Division 3 of Part 2 29B Minister may impose, vary or revoke conditions on giving effect to a core foreign arrangement (1) The Minister may impose conditions on the giving effect to an arrangement with a core foreign entity by a core State/Territory entity. (2) The Minister must not impose a condition under subsection (1) that: (a) requires the text of the arrangement to be varied; or (b) is inconsistent with the terms of the arrangement. (3) If the Minister imposes conditions under subsection (1), the Minister must give the core State/Territory entity written notice of the condAustralia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Amendment introduced text
Commonwealth entity has the same meaning as in the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. entrusted person means any of the following: (a) the Minister; (b) the Secretary to the Department; (c) an APS employee in the Department; (d) any other person who is employed or engaged by the Commonwealth to provide services to the Commonwealth in connection with the Department; (e) any other person who is in a class of persons prescribed by the rules. relevant information means information: (a) notified to the Minister under this Act; or (b) generated from information notiAustralia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Amendment introduced text
66 After section 7 7A Application of this Act to overseas university campuses (1) For the purposes of this Act, conduct engaged in by an overseas campus of an Australian university is taken to be conduct engaged in by the Australian university. (2) A foreign arrangement between an overseas campus of the Australian university and a foreign entity is taken to be an arrangement between the Australian university and the foreign entity. (3) The Australian university must: (a) comply with obligations under this Act that would apply to the overseas campus of the Australian university if the overAustralia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Amendment introduced text
25 After subsection 13(1) (1A) However, if: (a) the Minister gives approval for a core State/Territory entity to enter an arrangement under subsection 24(2), or is taken to have given approval to enter an arrangement under subsection 28(2); and (b) a condition is not imposed under subsection 24(3A) or 29B(1) requiring the Minister’s approval before varying a core foreign arrangement; (c) Division 2 of Part 2 does not apply to any variation of the arrangement; and (d) sections 22 and 24 to 28 do not apply to a minor variation of the arrangement. Note: A core State/Territory entity must giAustralia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Amendment introduced text
Australia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Act 2020 37 Subdivision A of Division 2 of Part 3 Repeal the Subdivision. 38 Paragraph 36(1)(a) Before “a State/Territory entity”, insert “the Minister becomes aware that”. 39 Paragraph 36(1)(a) Omit “(whether or not notice of the proposal has been given to the Minister under section 34)”.Australia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Amendment introduced text
28 Subsection 17(1) (note) After “being given the notice,”, insert “or, if the period is extended by the Minister for a further period of up to 30 days, within that extended period,”. 29 Paragraph 21(1)(b) Omit all the words after “subsection 17(2) or (3)”, substitute: (i) the 30‑day period that starts on the day the notice is given; or (ii) if the Minister extends that period under subsection (1A)—the extended period. 30 After subsection 21(1) (1A) The Minister may, before the end of the 30‑day period referred to in subparagraph (1)(b)(i), extend that period once for a further period (Australia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Amendment introduced text
Context
Australia already had the Foreign Arrangements SchemeGovernment oversight of public bodies’ foreign deals. under the 2020 Foreign Relations Act, allowing the Commonwealth to oversee foreign arrangements made by state and territory bodies and other public institutions. After the 2025 Independent Review identified the need for clearer national-interest decisions and less burden on lower-risk arrangements, the government introduced this bill on 1 July 2026 through Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP to extend coverage, improve information sharing and give the minister more flexible approval powers.
Foreign Relations Act establishes the Foreign Arrangements SchemeGovernment oversight of public bodies’ foreign deals.
The Act established a national scheme for assessing foreign arrangements involving state and territory entities and other public institutions.
Australia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Amendment explanatory memorandum ↗Independent review calls for a stronger, clearer scheme
The review identified stronger national-interest decisions, clearer rules and lower administrative burden for low-risk arrangements as priorities.
Australia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Amendment explanatory memorandum ↗Government introduces the amendment bill
Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP introduced the bill in the House of Representatives to implement recommendations from the 2025 review and adjust the scheme for higher- and lower-risk arrangements.
Hansard ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Key criticism
The evidence pack contains no opposition, crossbench or other critical debate speech. Its only parliamentary contribution is Matt Thistlethwaite’s ministerial speech, reproduced twice, so no named criticism can be established from the supplied evidence.
Thistlethwaite (Australian Labor Party) argued the changes would improve risk controls while cutting unnecessary paperwork, particularly for lower-risk arrangements.
Further sources
Votes
No recorded votes have been found yet for this bill.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Matt Thistlethwaite supports the bill, saying it strengthens oversight of foreign arrangements, improves risk management, and reduces unnecessary administrative burdens while protecting Australia's national interests.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
1 speaker · 1 support
“This bill responds to the review's findings, and this bill implements a number of those recommendations that were made by Ms Huxtable. Its amendments would strengthen the scheme's framework by sharpening the focus on Australia's national interest and enhancing the tools available to manage risk. The bill will streamline the scheme's operation by simplifying processes and reducing administrative burden, particularly for lower risk arrangements. Together, these reforms ensure that the scheme continues to support international engagement while protecting Australia's interests.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
