Registered Chinese lobbyists and officials made the most attempts to influence the Australian government and political system in the past financial year.
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The foreign influence transparency scheme was set up in 2018 to bring transparency to sources of foreign influence on federal political and governmental processes.
There were more than 190 activities undertaken by more than 110 foreign actors over the period, spanning 37 jurisdictions.
It's slightly down from the more than 200 activities undertaken by 110 people in the year prior.
People associated with China made just over 50 activities in the financial year to July 1, 2022, while Japan came in second with less than 20, followed by the United States (15), and France and Kuwait (10).
Activities included communications, disbursements and political lobbying across industries such as mining, energy, technology, think tanks and academia.
The vast majority came from a foreign government-related entity, while a handful came from a foreign government or foreign political organisation directly.
Opposition spokesman for countering foreign interference James Paterson said Australia needed to be aware of potential soft influence against officials.
"ASIO has warned us that foreign interference and espionage has supplanted terrorism as our principal security concern, and covert foreign influence is the soft end of that spectrum," Senator Paterson said.
"We need to ensure that the activities of foreign governments to influence Australia is utterly transparent to safeguard our democracy."
Parliament's joint intelligence and security committee is reviewing whether the transparency scheme is fit for purpose.
Senator Paterson said the opposition would offer support for any needed reforms.
Australian Associated Press
