It is only the third time such a charge has been laid in Australia since the introduction of foreign interference laws in 2018, and the first case involving alleged interference in a community group.
China understands national interest as being advanced by favourable outcomes, by reducing the possibility of unfavourable outcomes — and by reducing the space for disagreement or dissent.
Foreign interference is threats and intimidation directed, supervised or financed towards locals in order to cause harm and impact on Australia’s multicultural way of life.
The crash killed 42-year-old mother Nancy Lefrançois and her 11-year-old son Loïc Chevalier, who were travelling in a passenger vehicle struck in the collision.
