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The Albanese government has introduced emergency legislation to prevent Russia from opening a new embassy fewer than two kilometres from Parliament House in Canberra, saying the new site poses an unacceptable security risk.
The government intervened in the long-running dispute about the embassy site after the Federal Court last week found an eviction order issued by the National Capital Authority (NCA) was invalid.
The site of the new now-cancelled Russian embassy in Yarralumla, where one building has been constructed to date.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
The Russian government was granted the 99-year lease for the plot of land, in the upmarket suburb of Yarralumla, in 2008 but failed to progress plans to develop the site, leading the NCA to claim it should give it up to another country.
“The government has received very clear security advice as to the risk presented by a new Russian presence, and so close to Parliament House,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a press conference.
“We’re acting quickly to ensure the lease site does not become a formal diplomatic presence.
“The government condemns Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine.
“To be clear, today’s decision is one taken in the national security interests of Australia.”
He said Russia would continue to be allowed to have a diplomatic presence in Australia at its current site in Griffith, which is further away from Parliament House.
“This is not about changing that, this is about the specific risk presented by this site and that is why we are taking this action,” he said as he announced the government would cancel Russia’s lease on the second embassy site.
The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age revealed earlier this year that Australian intelligence agencies had disrupted a highly active “hive” of Russian spies who were posing as diplomats and forced the ring’s key players to leave Australia.
The spy ring’s aim was to recruit Australians with access to classified information and, according to one source with knowledge of the Russians’ activity, use sophisticated technology to steal data and communicate without being intercepted.
Albanese said he had consulted with the opposition on Wednesday night to ensure the legislation could pass through parliament urgently and take effect as soon as possible.
Ukraine has previously expressed an interest in taking possession of the vacant land in Yarralumla to develop an embassy.
The proposed new site, which is adjacent to the current Chinese embassy, would have made the Russian embassy among the closest diplomatic posts to Parliament House.
“The government has received clear national security advice that this would be a threat to our national security. And that is why the government is acting decisively today to bring this … matter to a close,” Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said.
The National Capital Authority announced last August that it was terminating the Russian lease agreement because it had failed to finish construction within a reasonable time.
“The block is a premium site in central Canberra, close to Lake Burley Griffin and the Australian Parliament House,” NCA chief executive Sally Barnes said.
“Ongoing unfinished works detract from the overall aesthetic, importance and dignity of the area reserved for diplomatic missions and foreign representation in the national capital.”
Barned continued: “With limited blocks currently available for diplomatic purposes, unless a country can demonstrate a willingness and ability to develop the site, the NCA supports a policy of ‘Use it or lose it’.”
The Russian embassy has been contacted for comment.
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