Australia to stop Russia from building new embassy PM

Anthony Albanese said he wants to terminate the lease agreement for the plot of land where the proposed embassy would be

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday that he would introduce a bill to terminate the lease agreement for a plot of land in Canberra where Russia plans to build a new embassy building.

“The government has received very clear security advice as to the risk presented by a new Russian presence so close to Parliament House,” Albanese said. “We are acting quickly to ensure the lease site does not become a formal diplomatic presence.”

The PM added that he expected the legislation to pass both houses of the country’s parliament, the House of Representatives and the Senate, later on Thursday. 

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil also argued that “the principal problem” with the proposed building was its location.

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