Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting on Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator, for your question. It might perhaps have been useful if you had referred to the detail of the comments of Minister Shorten. I assume you are referring to his comments acknowledging the need to improve transparency regarding the investment in and purchase of land—that is in the generality; that is not a direct quote from me. I assume that is your general reference.

Firstly, I would make the very obvious point that this government welcomes foreign investment. It has helped build Australia’s economy. In fact, I think that, for all but one year of just over 200 years of European settlement, we have been net foreign investors.