Australia’s foreign interference laws designed for China – former PM Turnbull

CANBERRA, Feb 21 (Reuters) – Exposing China’s activities was the “key purpose” of Australia’s foreign interference laws, but the scheme has failed to do this, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, who introduced the laws, said on Tuesday. The Australian government was careful not to name China when introducing laws to prevent foreign interference in 2018, but the move nonetheless sparked tension with Australia’s largest trading partner that later developed into a diplomatic freeze. Turnbull told a parliamentary committee the “key purpose” of a foreign interest register was to disclose the links the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Work Department had…