Who's interested in investing in Australia, buying land or a stake in companies? Is it a cause for concern or good for keeping our economy strong as a world player? Is our food security threatened?
The Australia Institute is more concerned about major foreign investors' decisions not being in line with Australian national interests that their buying up local farms and resources. It also says it makes sense for the Federal Government to intervene if foreign investors want to turn farm land into mines against national interests.
The left wing think-tank's director, Richard Dennis says he can see the sense in reducing the foreign investment theshold from $244-million to trigger intervention by the Foreign Investment Review Board. The National Party is concerned about the limit and wants to see it lowered.
Mr Denniss says he would be concerned if foreign investors change the core business of any asset they purchase, if it didn't line up with Australian interests.
"You've got foreign mining companies buying up the agricultural land so they can turn it into mining land without complaint from the local agricultural industry, so there you've got a particularly important case for the government to intervene."
ABC Riverina
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