Australian government to pass law cancelling lease on new Russian embassy site

Anthony Albanese said he had briefed the opposition on the move in response to ‘clear security advice’ about the risk of the embassy so close to parliament

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The Australian government will rush through special legislation allowing it to cancel Russia’s lease on a site for a new embassy near parliament house, citing national security concerns.

On Thursday Anthony Albanese and the home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, announced the move, with the prime minister promising to act “quickly to ensure the leased site does not become a formal diplomatic presence”.