I don’t like it at all David.

We simply shouldn’t be selling off the farm to foreign interests!

Far too much of this country is owned by overseas interests as it is, which compromises our ability to determine our own destiny as far as food production and a sustainable future is concerned.

The writer has muddled two different questions:

1. Do we need foreign investment in Australian companies?

2. Do we want foreigners controlling our farms, our land and our food supplies?

Check around the world. See how many countries forbid foreigners to own their land. China does- all land remains the property of the state. In the United Arab Emirates, I believe, all oil wells remain the property of the State. Nobody who isn't Indonesian can own land in Indonesia. Only a Samoan can own land in Western Samoa. And so on.

Why does our government allow Chinese, Americans etc to buy harbour-side and oceanfront land in Sydney? It keeps the price high and locks out poor Aussies who are trying to get into the property market.
Foreign investment? Fine.
Own our land and control our destiny? No way!

Or maybe even the price placed on farms is above what the market is prepared to accept given their (very variable) returns?

Land is what makes a Nation. Then ,on that land ,we have People , our Citizens.

It is Articles like this that makes Economists to be total Dills ,all long sighted.

Now I can add another party to the Do Not Vote For List.. The Liberal Democratic Party

A very sensible article. Much opposition to foreign ownership is confused and emotive. Foreign investment will be good for the farming sector.

Ludwig
The proportion of foreign ownership of Australian land is tiny, and likely to remain so

Rhian, do you have some figures on that?