Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Saturday that China has “form”—or a record—on foreign interference in Australia and that his government is “very aware” of the influence that Beijing seeks to have in the country.
“So any suggestion that China, the Chinese government, doesn’t seek to interfere in Australia—well, we didn’t put that legislation in for no reason,” Morrison told reporters.
“We put it in there to ensure that Australians’ security could be safeguarded from foreign influence in our own country,” he added.
Morrison was responding to a question regarding Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews’ claim that China might have timed the announcement of its security pact with the Solomon Islands to influence the Australian election outcome.
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