Australia: Melbourne man convicted for planning 'act of foreign interference'

The first judgement of its sort under a law passed in 2018 was rendered by an Australian court on Tuesday, finding a Melbourne man who held important positions in Chinese community associations guilty of plotting an act of foreign influence.

Australia Federal Police (AFP) announced in a statement that Di Sanh Duong, a former member of the Liberal party, was found guilty of charges brought against him by police in Victoria state in 2020 over the preparation or planning of an act of foreign interference.

According to the local media, the court was informed by the prosecutors that Duong had maintained frequent communication with Chinese intelligence and had attempted to persuade a federal government minister to support the objectives of the Chinese Communist Party.

Innocent, Duong entered a plea. He is going to be sentenced at a later date.

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According to the law, a foreign government's covert actions that compromise Australia's national interests are considered foreign interference.

“Foreign interference remains a significant national security priority for the AFP,” the police statement said.

China reacted angrily when then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull brought up the bill in parliament, citing claims of Chinese government meddling in Australian colleges and politics.

(With agency inputs)