Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I present the explanatory memoranda and I move:

  That these bills be now read a second time.

I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The speeches read as follows—

FOREIGN ACQUISITIONS AND TAKEOVERS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2015

This legislation being introduced today will strengthen Australia's foreign investment framework.

This legislative package shall ensure Australia maintains a welcoming environment for investment — but one that ensures that the investment is not contrary to our national interest.

These reforms shall ensure that from 1 December 2015, Australia's foreign investment framework is more modern, simple and effective.

Importantly, it will add integrity to the system, so that everybody plays by the rules. With integrity comes compliance.

By granting new compliance powers to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), and additional powers to the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB), the Government is ensuring that Australians can have confidence that our foreign investment framework will be effectively enforced.

Australians expect our foreign investment rules to be strong, effective and enforceable.

Our foreign investment rules have not been significantly revised since introduction in 1975 and have not kept pace with the changes in global investment.

The Government recognises the changing landscape and has already taken active steps to enforce the existing rules and act decisively on foreign investment breaches.

One such step is to encourage those who are in breach to come forward and self-report. In so doing, we have announced a reduced penalty period for foreign investors who come forward and self-report non-compliance before 30 November 2015.

Already, the Treasurer has issued the first divestment order in about 10 years. Since then, the Treasurer has required the divestment of more than 10 illegally-held properties under the reduced penalty period.

While the Government has increased enforcement activities, further strengthening of the framework is still required to ensure foreign investment in Australia can be appropriately monitored and the rules enforced for the benefit of all Australians.

With this package of Bills, the Government is implementing its commitment to increase scrutiny and transparency around foreign investment in agriculture. The Government is also responding to concerns raised by the House Economics Committee that a lack of compliance and enforcement of the residential real estate rules is undermining the overall integrity of the foreign investment framework.

The package delivers a robust and enforceable regulatory framework and provides a predictable and welcoming environment for investors.

The Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 makes essential changes to simplify the system, strengthen the framework and ensure the rules are enforced.

Consistent with the recommendations of the House Economics Committee, the Bill introduces a range of new and stricter penalties that are commensurate to the severity of the breach and ensure that those who break the rules do not profit by their actions.

Criminal penalties will be increased from $90,000 to $135,000 for individuals and will be supplemented by civil pecuniary penalties and infringement notices for less serious breaches of the residential real estate rules.

Third parties such as real estate agents, migration agents, conveyancers and lawyers who knowingly assist a foreign investor to breach the rules will also now be subject to both civil and criminal penalties.

The Government has provided $47.5 million over four years to the ATO to improve compliance and enforcement of the rules. The ATO has the capacity to cover more than 600 million transactions annually through its sophisticated data matching programs.

The Foreign Acquisitions Bill also implements the Government's commitment to lower the screening thresholds for investments in Australian agriculture.

Since 1 March 2015, the screening threshold for foreign purchases of agricultural land has been lowered from $252 million to $15 million based on the cumulative value of agricultural land owned by that investor. The Government is also introducing a $55 million threshold for direct interests in agribusinesses from 1 December 2015.

Australians can have confidence that investments into agriculture will be scrutinised to ensure that they are not contrary to the national interest.

The Government is committed to deregulation and ensuring that we create an investment environment that is open for business.

The Bill includes a package of long overdue amendments that will reduce red tape by removing routine cases and better aligning the foreign investment framework with other corporate legislation. For example, the substantial interest threshold will be raised from 15 to 20 per cent to better align the foreign investment rules with the takeover rules in the Corporations Act 2001. This means investors acquiring a stake of less than 20 per cent will no longer need foreign investment approval.

The Bill will also provide greater certainty for investors and the Australian community by bringing foreign government investors within the legislative framework.

FOREIGN ACQUISITIONS AND TAKEOVERS FEES IMPOSITION BILL 2015

The second Bill in the package is the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Bill 2015.

The Imposition Bill introduces fees on foreign investment applications to ensure Australian taxpayers are no longer required to fund the costs of the administering and enforcing the foreign investment regime.

For residential and agricultural properties valued at $1 million or less, foreign investors will pay a fee of $5,000. Higher fees apply to more expensive residential and agricultural properties as well as commercial real estate and business applications.

REGISTER OF FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF AGRICULTURAL LAND BILL 2015

The last Bill in the package is the Register of Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land Bill 2015.

The Register Bill complements the lower agricultural screening thresholds that the Government has put in place to deliver better scrutiny and transparency around foreign investment into Australia's agricultural sector.

On 1 July 2015 the Government established a register of foreign ownership of agricultural land operated by the ATO.

All existing holdings must be registered with the ATO by 31 December 2015 and any new interests registered within 30 days.

The ATO is collecting information such as the location and size of the property and size of the interest acquired.

The Government is also working with the states and territories to use their land titles data to expand the register in the future.

For the first time, the land register will provide a clear picture on the actual levels of foreign ownership of agricultural land in Australia.

This package of legislation ensures that we continue to welcome foreign investment while having the capacity to monitor activity and ensure compliance. In doing so, these measures will ensure that continued foreign investment in Australia will benefit all Australians and our future generations.

Debate adjourned.