Coalition changes foreign veto bill to ease concerns of universities and Labor

New definition mean universities won't have to notify the government about deals with counterparts in countries such as the UK and US

The Morrison government has narrowed the coverage of its foreign veto bill in a bid to ease concerns of the university sector and the opposition about the potential reach of the planned new powers.

The changes mean Australian universities, which have been worried thousands of international research agreements could be subject to review, will likely not have to notify the government about deals with their counterparts in a range of countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States.