Universities have strong working relationships with Government agencies on security matters, and regularly seek advice to safeguard their people, research and systems.

Universities Australia Chair Professor Deborah Terry said:

“Australian universities have worked with Government for decades to protect our intellectual property and to rebuff attempts to breach our security.”

“But in a world of ever more complex risks, we will work together through a new taskforce to add to the current protections, while preserving the openness and collaboration that is crucial to the success of Australia’s world-class university system.”

Universities Australia will be represented on the University Foreign Interference Taskforce announced today.

“There’s a very careful balance to be struck in this work. We must continue to safeguard our security without undermining the invaluable asset of our openness.”

As Education Minister Dan Tehan has announced today, the taskforce will include fifty percent representation from the university sector and fifty percent from Government agencies.

Its work will focus on four strategic areas – cybersecurity, research and intellectual property, foreign collaboration, and culture and communication.