Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced last week the bipartisan decision to pass legislation that would cancel a Russian diplomatic lease on the land on security grounds, due to its close proximity to Parliament House.
If the man is a member of Russia’s diplomatic mission to Australia, he would be unable to be arrested due to diplomatic immunity, unless the federal government declares him persona non grata and deports him back to Russia.
This would almost certainly spark a reprisal from Moscow, which last week voiced its clear disapproval over the government’s decision regarding the lease.
Russia retains an embassy in the Canberra suburb of Griffith.
Speaking at a press conference today, Albanese downplayed the man’s presence on the site.
“Of course, we anticipated that Russia would not be happy with our response,” Albanese said.
“We expected that, but we’re confident of our position and processes are underway for the Commonwealth to formalise possession of the site.”
Countries with the highest military expenditure in the world
Albanese said the national security threat posed by a potential Russian embassy on the site was not matched by the man’s presence.
“A bloke standing in the cold on a bit of grass in Canberra is not a threat to our national security,” he said.
9news.com.au has contacted the Australian Federal Police for comment.