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

Those of us on this side of the chamber understand how important foreign investment is for rural and regional communities. We absolutely understand that. It is investment. It is about foreign investment that comes in and brings money into our communities to build and to invest, and that is very much appreciated. But we do have a set of rules that governs foreign ownership, and I think sometimes people get a little confused about foreign investment and foreign ownership. We have a very good set of rules now when it comes to foreign ownership, because this government recognises (a) what the people out in our rural and regional areas, in particular, want to see when it comes to foreign investment and (b) what the right balance is in terms of that foreign ownership to our economy and ensuring that we have those opportunities at the same time—balancing what is an appropriate level of foreign ownership. This side of the chamber has got it right. The other side wants a $1,000 million limit—open slather. (Time expired)