Australia

Foreign investment in the spotlight
- Xcheque
- 01 October 2012
In debate over large scale investments in agriculture in Australia, there are some broader issues about foreign investment that don’t seem to get talked about enough.
Cubbie conundrums: the foreign investment debate
- ABC
- 01 October 2012
The sale of Cubbie Station to a Chinese-led consortium has divided Australia on the issue of foreign investment.
Food needs drive Chinese overseas
- AFR
- 25 September 2012
If there was any doubt that China is desperate for agricultural assets, it has been dispelled by the news that China Investment Corp with its $US190 billion war chest is on the hunt all the way down to chilly Tasmania in search of fresh milk.
China targets dairy industry
- AFR
- 24 September 2012
China’s giant sovereign wealth fund is looking to make its first significant investment in the Australian dairy industry, as it tries to lock up food supplies for its growing middle class.
Laguna digests stake in Australia’s PrimeAg
- WSJ
- 20 September 2012
Laguna Bay Pastoral Company Crop Fund No. 8 is a relatively new player in Australia’s rural property game, backed by the Global Endowment Fund based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
PrimeAg plants seed in suitors’ minds
- Wall Street Journal
- 10 September 2012
Colliers International estimates about A$4 billion is currently being raised for funds to invest in Australian agriculture, including PrimeAg’s raising of A$125 million in cash for a controversial unlisted A$250 million agriculture fund with Australia’s Future Fund.
Mawashi puts greater focus on food security
- Gulf Times
- 07 September 2012
Mawashi, Qatar’s livestock company, plans to invest in industrial agriculture and food sources outside Qatar to serve the vision and objectives of the Qatar National Food Security Programme, it was announced yesterday.
PrimeAg may be ripe for foreign picking
- The Land
- 04 September 2012
It is understood the agricultural division of the $163 billion Canada Pension Plan Investment Board has been sniffing around Australian agricultural land recently and has had discussions in Australia with landholders such as PrimeAg.
Australia: Chinese bid for Cubbie sparks political row
- ABC
- 03 September 2012
The approved sale of sprawling Australian cotton farm Cubbie Station to Chinese interests has sparked a political row as Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce insists foreign ownership is not in the national interest.
Australia approves China farm purchase, sparks investment concern
- Reuters
- 03 September 2012
Australia approved a Chinese company's bid for giant (100,000 ha) cotton farm, including entitlements to a massive 537,000 mega litres of water, or enough to fill Sydney Harbour.
Who’s buying the farm?
- The Land
- 24 August 2012
Australians are entitled to test and scrutinise the benefits of foreign acquisitions to ensure they are in our national interest and, importantly, safeguard Australia’s role in global food security.
Stop selling our land overseas
- SMH
- 20 August 2012
Politicians and economists say that the Australian public is only worked up about foreign ownership of agricultural land because the community is misinformed. This drives the belief that a register of foreign land holdings will calm everyone's anxiety. Given that Queensland has had such a register for 20 years, and that disquiet about foreign ownership still resonates among Queenslanders, this means that something else is at play.