If the US can’t afford to keep China out, can Australia?

If Australia truly is in a ‘global war for talent’, interventions in the university sector — similar to those made by America — are inflicting debilitating wounds.

Aug 20, 2026 6 min read

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong (Images: AAP) When the Albanese government axed a joint venture between ANU and Shandong University in China on “national security grounds”, there was consternation in the university sector.

Speaking at an annual higher education summit on Tuesday, Brian Schmidt, former vice-chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU) and Nobel Prize-winning professor of astrophysics, said since the collaborative program presented “almost no risk”, he didn’t know why the government felt it necessary. He then warned Australian universities there could be more such cancellations to come.