Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says government cancelled lease through parliament in light of ‘very clear security advice’
CANBERRA
Australia on Thursday canceled a lease by the Russian Embassy to establish a new location near Parliament House.
Within an hour of the government introducing a bill to terminate the lease, Parliament passed it in just over an hour with opposition backing, ABC News reported.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the government made the move in light of the risk of the new location.
“The Government has received very clear security advice as to the risk presented by a new Russian presence so close to Parliament,” Albanese told reporters in Parliament, according to transcript on his website.
He said the decision was taken in the national interests of Australia and thanked lawmakers for their cooperation.
Denying any government move to expel Russian diplomats over the ongoing Ukraine war, Albanese said the Russian diplomatic presence will continue.
“Just as Australia has a diplomatic presence in Moscow. 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.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said the bill sought to terminate a specific piece of land under lease with the National Capital Authority and the Russian Federation.
“The principal problem with the proposed second Russian Embassy in Canberra is its location. This location sits directly adjacent to Parliament House,” she added.
