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

Senator Patrick, I think we were discussing this yesterday. Obviously, in relation to the processes which will exist under the bill, the engagement of the task force with entities, state and territory governments, local governments and universities will be very much part of that process. As I alluded to yesterday—and I haven't quite put my hand on the note that I was using yesterday—it's similar to the provisions under the FIRB, which are also sensitive decisions and are provisions which have a similar application as these. We will be engaging comprehensively with those stakeholders, with those entities, on these matters. I think once the stocktake process is underway, and we have the chance to go through the arrangements and work with entities about the nature of those arrangements, I do think this will fall into a sort of rhythm, if you like, in terms of awareness and understanding of what the implications are in relation to foreign policy and foreign relations.

One thing I would like to absolutely assure the chamber of is that this is in no way intended to be a confrontational engagement or a confrontational relationship between the Commonwealth government and state and territory and local governments and universities under this bill. This is meant to be and will be, I'm absolutely confident, a constructive set of relationships that will assist us all in coming to a collaborative approach on foreign policy and reflecting the Commonwealth's particular role in that regard.