Australia's highest court has unanimously upheld a law that blocked the construction of a new Russian embassy in the capital, Canberra, Reuters reports, News.bg reports.
The decision is based on national security considerations and voids the lease on a plot of land located about 300 meters from the Parliament building.
Russia had a lease on the plot and planned to build a new building to replace its older diplomatic mission. But in 2023, the Australian government passed the Home Affairs Act after receiving “very clear security advice about the risk posed by a new Russian presence so close to Parliament,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
Russia challenged the law in the High Court, arguing that Parliament was not constitutionally empowered to pass such an act. Today, the court ruled that the law validly invoked Parliament’s power to seize land on “fair terms,” and that Moscow was entitled to compensation.
On Telegram, the Russian embassy in Australia said it would “carefully study the text of the decision.”
The history of the property dates back to 2008, when Russia secured a 99-year lease for diplomatic use for A$2.75 million. Construction of the new embassy began but was not completed, and the existing building is located in the suburb of Griffith.
The Australian government stressed that the cancellation of the contract was legal because compensation under the constitution is only required if the property was acquired for a specific use, which was not the case here. The court confirmed that the lack of a proposed use or application for the land made compensation “irrelevant“ outside the requirements of the constitution.
Australia's Attorney-General Michelle Rowland welcomed the decision: “Australia will always stand up for its values and we will stand up for our national security.“