Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

I will answer those aspects of the question that fall within my portfolio or representing responsibilities. I suspect comments by the Minister for Trade do not fall within that category—

Senator Brandis interjecting—

But that is why—Senator Brandis, if you could stop interjecting—I am going to respond to those aspects which do fall within the portfolio. The government has a view which is twofold. First, that it is in Australia's national interest to continue to welcome foreign investment that creates jobs in this country. These are jobs for Australians; these are jobs which would not be here were it not for foreign investors. The second proposition is that you want a sound framework to assess that investment, which is why from the first dollar of every investment by a foreign government or a foreign state owned enterprise the national interest applies and there is an assessment process. In addition, as the Senate would know, there are monetary thresholds over which assessments in relation to— (Time expired)