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Interference law scrutiny 'intensive': PM

Charities will be prevented from using foreign donations for political campaigning under the prime minister's proposed foreign interference laws.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Turnbull says foreign interference laws were written in a bygone era and have to be updated. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Proposed foreign interference laws are going through "very intense consideration", but Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull won't say if that includes the unintended consequences for charities.

Charities would be prevented from using foreign donations for political campaigning under the proposed laws, something Labor says it will not support.

A parliamentary committee is currently investigating the proposed laws, which have already been re-written over concerns it could have criminalised journalism.

Asked on Monday if greater protection for charities would be considered to secure Labor's support, Mr Turnbull refused to engage.

"We always seek to obtain bipartisan and cross-party, wherever possible, support for national security legislation. I think it's very important," he said.

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"I don't want to go through particular amendments, but it's a matter of very intense consideration."

Mr Turnbull said Australia's foreign interference laws were written in a bygone era and had to be brought up to date.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Labor wouldn't support tying the hands of charities.

"It shouldn't be all or nothing from the government. They should just deal with the (political parties) and forget the charities, and stop making their life hard," he said on Monday.

Foreign interference as a global security issue will be on the agenda when Mr Turnbull meets with British Prime Minister Theresa May in London later this week.


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