In 2008, Russia obtained a 99-year lease agreement for a plot of land for diplomatic purposes, located only about 300 meters from the Australian Parliament building. There were plans to build a new embassy on the plot, as the current one is located in the Canberra suburb of Griffith. Russia paid $2.75 million for the lease agreement. Australian (approximately PLN 6.5 million).
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What was the decision of the court in Australia regarding the Russian embassy?
Why did Australia invalidate the lease?
What does Russia intend to do after the court's decision?
What amounts were related to the plot lease agreement?
In 2023, the Australian government introduced a Home Affairs Act allowing the lease of this plot to be canceled for national security reasons. As the Australian prime minister said at the time, the decision was made after receiving “very clear security recommendations regarding the risk posed by a new Russian presence so close to the parliament building.”
Russia appealed against the decision
However, Russia appealed against the Australian government's decision to the Supreme Court, arguing that parliament did not have the power under the constitution to pass such a law. In turn, the government in Canberra argued that under the provisions of the constitution regarding the power of parliament to legislate for the country's territories, it could invalidate the lease agreement.
On Wednesday, Australia's highest court unanimously ruled that the law correctly invoked parliament's constitutional power to take land on “fair terms.” It added that Russia has the right to compensation because, as he emphasized, the lack of a proposal to use or apply the land is “immaterial” and compensation “is required by the constitution.”
Australia's Attorney General Michelle Rowland welcomed the Supreme Court's decision. “Australia will always defend our values and we will defend our national security,” she said in a statement.
