Australia Blocks New Russian Embassy Near Parliament

Facts

Australia has revealed that it will introduce legislation in order to cancel Russia's lease to build a new embassy in the country's capital of Canberra.¹
In Australia's latest attempt to block the establishment of a new Russian embassy, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that intelligence agencies had given "very clear" security guidance on the matter, with the bills being passed through with bipartisan support.²
In August 2022, the National Capital Authority sought to terminate Russia's lease — a move that was overturned by Australia's federal court on May 31. The court found the order to be "invalid and of no effect" after Russia took legal action against the decision.³
Although Russia acquired the lease 15 years ago, home affairs minister Clare O'Neil has said that the proximity to Parliament House, being directly adjacent to the prospective embassy, made it necessary for Australia to bring the "longstanding matter to a close."⁴
O'Neil continued that the "scope for espionage and foreign interference" from a Russian embassy so close to Australia's national legislature constituted a "substantial risk for the nation." Russia has already spent $5.5M on the site and Moscow had not managed to complete construction in the agreed three-year window from 2011.⁵
Russia will continue to reside in their existing embassy in Canberra, with Albanese affirming a Russian presence will remain in the city "just as Australia has a diplomatic presence in Moscow."⁶

Anti-Russia narrative, as provided by Firstpost. Australia is one of the most generous providers of military assistance to Ukraine and has continued to escalate sanctions against Russia since its illegal invasion. Having also accused Russia of cyber crimes against Australia's largest health insurer, tensions have continued to grow. In light of this, with Russian retaliation likely, this is a perfectly reasonable course of action for Canberra.
Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by TASS. The decision by Australia is another deliberate attempt to destroy relations between itself and Russia. Russia will remember such actions, and if events arise where reciprocal behavior is required the state will act accordingly. Australia continues to follow the mainstream Western trend of pursuing hostility towards Russia. This move was unwarranted and Russophobic.