Australia’s parliament on Thursday passed legislation giving the federal government power to veto any agreement struck with foreign states, a move likely to anger China and
intensify a bitter diplomatic spat between the two countries. The law allows the Commonwealth to block any agreement between Australian states, councils or institutions and a foreign government, such as a controversial
2018 deal between the state of Victoria and China.
“Australia’s policies and plans, the rules that we make for our country are made here in Australia according to our needs and our interests,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters in Canberra.
