Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

As a big country with a relatively small population, we've long used foreign investment to help build our nation, and that investment brings not just funds towards building our nation but also benefits of, often, new technology, different knowledge and different or better ways of doing things. An example of that is the entry in some parts of Australia of Spanish contractors around tunnel building. That has provided opportunities for lower costs, in terms of state governments pursuing major road infrastructure projects. The result of that can be that projects are delivered—they're delivered faster, and they're delivered more cost effectively for Australians. Taxpayers and households find they get the benefits of those major upgrades at lower costs.

At the same time, the Australian government is committed to ensuring the national security of our critical infrastructure. That's why our government established the Critical Infrastructure Centre—to identify and manage the national security risks associated with any foreign involvement in the telecommunication, electricity, water, ports or gas sectors. (Time expired)