"Australia passed legislation in 2023 to mothball the planned embassy building after officials deemed it to pose a security threat. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at the time that his government decided to revoke the lease over the specific risk posed by the site, located about 300 metres (328 yards) from Parliament House. Russia, which blasted the move as Russophobic hysteria, challenged the legislation in court, arguing that it was not valid under the Australian Constitution."
"In a unanimous ruling on Wednesday, the High Court found that the cancellation of the lease had been a valid exercise of the legislative power to enact laws related to the acquisition of property. The court, however, ruled that Russia was entitled to compensation after paying about $2m for the 99-year lease in 2008. The court previously rejected a bid by Moscow to stop its officials from being evicted from the site."
The High Court ruled that Australia validly cancelled a 99-year lease for a planned Russian embassy near Parliament, upholding legislative power to acquire property. The government passed legislation in 2023 and introduced new laws on June 15 after intelligence agencies warned the location posed a national security risk about 300 metres from Parliament House. Russia challenged the legislation as unconstitutional and called the move Russophobic hysteria. The court found cancellation lawful but awarded Russia compensation after its 2008 lease payment of about $2 million. The government said it will consider next steps and emphasized standing up for national security and values.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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