source : the age
The University of Sydney has banned all collaborations with rogue states, following new advice from the federal government.
In a staff email sent on Wednesday and obtained by this masthead, the nation’s oldest university said that the guidelines were updated to reflect new government advice, its obligations under national security legislation and the current geopolitical environment.
Staff are now banned from collaborating with colleagues from Iran, Russia, Belarus and North Korea “unless approved in exceptional circumstances” by both the head of the faculty and staff in charge of national security compliance, the email said.
The wide-ranging ban takes in research collaborations, technical advice, access to university data or facilities, co-authorship for publication, travel, educational arrangements and funding, gifts or donations, and comes off the back of updated government advice.
“Where there is a compelling reason to proceed, staff must submit a written case explaining the proposed activity, why it is necessary, and how it aligns with Australia’s national interest,” said the email, sent by Mike Ryan, deputy vice-chancellor (research).
While international collaborations are “critical”, the university said it was vital to remind staff of the need to work within government regulations.
“We have no institutional partnerships in Iran, Russia, Belarus and North Korea and we’ve now refreshed our guidance to make clear that no engagements in and with those countries are to occur. In certain exceptional circumstances, the University may approve particular engagements,” the university said in a statement.
Education Minister Jason Clare banned 13 different university research proposals based on Australia’s national security, defence or international relations, the Australian Research Council said.
Advice from ASIO, Home Affairs and Defence underscored the bans, a spokesperson for Clare said.
The Australian government advises against travel to all four nations, while the diplomatic relationship with Iran remains at an all-time low amid its recent war with the US and following the expulsion of Tehran’s man in Canberra last year. Anthony Albanese’s government declared ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi and other Iranian officials as persons non grata when it became apparent the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was responsible for antisemitic attacks in Australia.
Australia has a number of sanctions in place against Russia and its officials; last month, Russian ambassador Mikhail Petrakov was rebuked by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for his nation’s plans for a blitz on Kyiv.
Australia has also halted co-operation with Belarus due to its support of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
“The Australian government has asked all state, territory and local governments and public universities to put on hold existing bilateral co-operation with the Belarusian government, including Belarusian subnational government entities, and to reconsider new engagement,” says DFAT’s briefing page on the former Soviet nation.
Australia has had sanctions against North Korea in place since 2006, restricting exports and commercial collaborations.
“This direction comes as a result of a shift in Australia’s foreign policy towards the governments of the above mentioned countries, and we recognise that this directive may impact colleagues and collaborators in different ways,” Ryan’s email said.
Staff with existing relationships with the rogue states must notify faculty heads and the executive immediately.
It stands in contrast to research with China, which is in part sanctioned by the Department of Industry’s Australia-China Science and Research Fund.
“Current advice from DFAT is that arrangements already under way may continue where they cannot reasonably be paused, provided they are concluded as quickly as possible,” the email said.
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