Melbourne man charged under foreign interference laws linked to China

A Melbourne man has become the first person to be charged with preparing for foreign interference under laws passed by the Federal Parliament in 2018.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) charged 65-year-old Di Sanh Duong today after executing a number of search warrants in the greater Melbourne area on October 16.

He faced the Melbourne Magistrates' Court today over the alleged offence.

Mr Duong is accused of preparing for a foreign interference event, understood to be related to China.

He is involved in a number of Chinese-Australian organisations and societies.

The charge comes after a year-long investigation by the Counter Foreign Interference (CFI) Taskforce, led by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the AFP, working with taskforce partners into the "man's relationship with a foreign intelligence agency".

The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years imprisonment.

AFP Deputy Commissioner Ian McCartney said the man was the first person in Australia to be charged with a foreign interference offence since the Commonwealth Parliament passed the National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill in 2018.

"The CFI Taskforce has taken preventative action to disrupt this individual at an early stage," Deputy Commissioner McCartney said.

"Foreign interference is contrary to Australia's national interest, it goes to the heart of our democracy.

"It is corrupting and deceptive, and goes beyond routine diplomatic influence practiced by governments.''

The matter remains an ongoing investigation.

Mr Duong was bailed and will face court in March next year.