Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

The legislation will provide a framework for the Commonwealth to measure state and territory arrangements against established foreign policy. The test is whether the foreign minister is satisfied that an arrangement or its negotiation does not adversely affect Australia's foreign relations or is unlikely to do so and is not inconsistent with Australia's foreign policy or is unlikely to be so. If the minister is not satisfied, he or she will have to refuse approval or may declare an existing arrangement to be invalid or may declare that negotiations not be continued. Subsidiary arrangements entered into under the auspices of an invalid arrangement may also be invalidated. For transparency, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will also be maintaining a publicly accessible register of decisions.