Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

It will not surprise the honourable senator that chances are I do not agree with that assertion.

As I understand it, around the world, agribusinesses and agricultural land are seen as absolutely prized assets, and that is even more the case in our country, Australia, because of the regimes we have in place, the rule of law that applies and the general stability that we enjoy in our country. As a result I have no doubt that Australia will still be seen as a very good place to invest, both with domestic money and with international money. All we are seeking to do is ensure that there is an appropriate regime around foreign investment to ensure that we know what is going on. That is why, through the Australian Taxation Office, we will establish a register of agricultural lands owned by foreign enterprises.