Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you very much for that question. What I would say—as you've indicated what former senator Bolkus has done—is that all companies consider their obligations under the scheme. Whether a person or an entity is required to register will depend, of course, on who the foreign principal is, the nature of the activities undertaken, the purpose for which the activity is undertaken and also, in some cases, whether the person has held a senior public position in Australia. The Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme commenced on 10 December last year, and its purpose is to provide public and government decision-makers with visibility of the nature, level and extent of foreign influence on Australia's government and political processes.