Cyber-spies appear to be the target of new visa cancellation powers. 

The Federal Government has given itself new grounds to cancel the visas of foreign nationals found to present an “unreasonable risk of unwanted critical technology knowledge transfer”.

Ahead of the current caretaker period, Home Affairs minister Karen Andrews was granted the new powers, though they have not yet come into force.

The cancellation could be applied to any visa holders, though certain bridging, protection and humanitarian visas have an extra discretionary step.

The visa cancellation powers are part of new critical technology regulations that give the minister powers to refuse visas.

The bill is focused in part on international students (subclass 500), who will soon be required to obtain ministerial approval before changing their course of study, thesis or research topic.

The government says its new regulations will “protect Australia’s critical technologies” by closing gaps in the visa integrity framework so that knowledge cannot be transferred to foreign actors and other entities.

“Australia’s ability to harness the opportunities created by critical technologies has a significant impact on our economic success, national security and community safety,” it states.

“Technological advances drive increased productivity, growth and improved living standards; but also have the potential to harm our national security and undermine our democratic values.”

More details are accessible here.