PM introduces foreign interference laws

Malcolm Turnbull says Australia must stand up and assert its sovereignty, in a veiled warning to China while introducing new laws around foreign interference.

The prime minister on Thursday presented to parliament a suite of bills - foreshadowed earlier this week - to address the growing threat of foreign states trying to influence the country's political landscape.

"We will not allow foreign states to use our freedoms to erode our freedom, our open democracy to subvert our democracy, our laws to undermine the rule of law," he told the lower house.

"We will not tolerate covert, coercive, or corruptive behaviour in our country."

He said the federal government took "very seriously" media reports that the Chinese Communist Party has been secretly working to interfere with Australia's media, universities and even the decisions of politicians.

"Our relationship with China is far too important to put at risk by failing to clearly set the terms of healthy and sustainable engagement," Mr Turnbull said.

"Modern China was founded by the statement the Chinese people have stood up, and today - and every day - the Australian people stand up and assert their sovereignty in our nation with our parliament and our laws."

China wasn't the only one, he said, citing "credible" reports of Russia's interference operations.

"Authoritarian states have been literally manufacturing public opinion in order to hijack political discourse and tilt the decision-making landscape to their advantage."

"These are their aims, but it is up to us to determine whether they are successful."