Australian officials said the so-called torch attendants would have no responsibility for security and the only role that Chinese officials would play was 'to light the torch should it be extinguished'.
The global torch relay has been targeted by anti-China protesters, who scuffled with police and tried to extinguish the flame during its London and Paris stops last week.
Track-suited Chinese paramilitary personnel accompanying the flame have been criticised for their heavy-handed tactics.
Both Tibet independence supporters and pro-China student groups in Canberra have vowed to rally, raising concerns about potential clashes between opposing demonstrators.
The Australian police have been given tough new powers for the relay next week and are authorised to stop and search people along the route. Items such as 'balls, eggs, paint bombs and any similar item that is likely to be used as a projectile' have been banned for those lining up to watch the relay.
Yesterday, the torch kicked off its Asian leg in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, where plans for a 3km torch run were abandoned due to security concerns. The event was confined to a sports stadium.
The flame arrives today in India, home to nearly 100,000 Tibetan exiles including the Dalai Lama.
Indian officials have shortened the relay route and deployed thousands of police to avoid chaotic protests.
ASSOCIATED PRESS, REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE