National

Chinese surveillance cameras removed from MP offices

By AAP Newswire

Feb 14, 2023

Security camera on a fence outside Parliament House in Canberra. — Removal of Chinese-made security cameras and intercoms from federal electorate offices has begun. -AAP Image

Chinese-made security cameras and intercoms are being removed from the electorate offices of federal politicians.

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Department of Finance officials told a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday there were 65 offices which have Chinese-manufactured Hikvision and Dahua security cameras installed.

Liberal senator Claire Chandler asked how many electorate offices had those surveillance systems in place.

An official said 45 offices were yet to have the security cameras removed, with the de-installation of intercom systems in "an earlier stage".

The committee was told it was a "precautionary measure".

The department notified politicians in July about the program to remove the surveillance systems.

It was revealed almost 1000 surveillance cameras and other recording devices, some of which have been banned in the US and UK, had been installed across government buildings.

China's Foreign Ministry responded last week to decisions made to remove security cameras, warning against "over-stretching the concept of national security" to target Chinese companies.