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

Senator Hanson, if the government of Australia goes and seizes land from individuals and they seek compensation for that, the government of Australia is indeed responsible for that or for other assets or for other things that might be, in that way, taken upon as a claim against Australia. They could well be taken upon, in most instances, as a claim under normal domestic law and processes were the government of Australia to act in such a way. Governments of Australia of both political persuasions don't tend to act in those ways. That's why, of course, these provisions have not been used successfully against Australia. They have been used successfully by Australian businesses operating elsewhere, and I would have thought, Senator Hanson, that you would have believed that Australia's systems of government were capable and responsible and did not pose a threat to investors but that perhaps Australian businesses operating in other markets deserved appropriate protections.