Australia to terminate Russian diplomatic lease near Parliament House

The federal government will terminate the Russian Federation's lease for a proposed second embassy just next to Parliament House.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the legislation was anticipated to pass the House of Representatives and the Senate this morning.

"The government has received very clear security advice as to the risk presented by a new Russian presence so close to Parliament House," Albanese said.

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Russia will continue to keep a diplomatic presence in Australia through its embassy in Griffith.

"We are acting quickly to ensure the lease site does not become a formal diplomatic presence," Albanese said.

"To be clear, today's decision is one taken in the national security interests of Australia."

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Albanese said a Russian response to the termination of the lease had been "anticipated".

"We don't expect that Russia's in a position to talk about international law, given their rejection of it so consistently and so brazenly with their invasion of Ukraine and the atrocities that have occurred that are occurring on an ongoing basis," he said.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said the land in question, which is directly next to Parliament House, would not become part of any diplomatic lease, but its future use had not been determined.

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