Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Minister for Rural Health) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for his question. The first thing I would say is that it is this side of the chamber that is actually addressing the issue of what are the appropriate measures for foreign investment in this nation. I do not resile from the fact that I have been very involved in the debate around this for a considerable period of time. As I move around regional communities it is an issue that is raised with me. I do believe that we have got the balance right. It was this government that actually lowered the threshold for the Foreign Investment Review Board to $15 million cumulative. It is this government that is actually getting the balance right. We know on this side of the chamber that it is important to look at these things with balance to ensure that the decisions we make benefit the economy, benefit the people of Australia and, from my perspective particularly, benefit people in rural and regional Australia.