LAWD Agribusiness senior director Danny Thomas speaking at the Global Food Forum in Brisbane. Photo: Glenn Hunt / The AustralianThe Weekly Times | 4 November 2025Foreign buyers could get fast-tracked approval to buy Aussie farms
by Tallis Miles
Overseas buyers wanting to acquire Australian property could be allowed automatic approvals or reduced reporting requirements, as part of possible foreign investment reforms.
The nation’s “relatively cumbersome and expensive” foreign investment review process is under the microscope, with floated reforms targeted at releasing the shackles on overseas investors - including for farmland.
The federal government has opened consultation on a series of potential changes to the Foreign Investment Review Board process, including an automatic approval pathway for low‑risk actions from trusted investors, requiring notification but not sign‑off, while retaining the power to review cases where required.
Other changes include assessing ways to reduce reporting and approval requirements, better manage approved investments, and provide more certainty on timely decisions, as well as strengthened conditions and enforceable undertakings to ensure investments are in the national interest.
“These reforms are all about unlocking more investment that’s in Australia’s national interest and subjecting higher risk proposals to more rigorous scrutiny,” Treasurer Jim Chalmers said.
“We are strengthening and streamlining Australia’s foreign investment system to attract investment that drives economic growth, creates skilled jobs, and lifts competition and innovation.”
The Weekly Times sought clarification on whether these potential changes would apply to foreign investment on agricultural land, or if it would be subject to any exceptions. Treasury failed to respond by deadline.
LAWD senior director Danny Thomas said any reform that reduced the time and cost of FIRB applications would be “overwhelmingly positive”.
“The process is long, relatively cumbersome and expensive at the present time,” he said.
“It makes it more challenging for foreign investors. The fees were increased, they have to pay stamp duty to the state and in Queensland they have the land tax too.
“There’s only so much lead you can put in the saddle.”
Mr Thomas also said the proposed automatic approvals for “trusted investors” made sense.
“North American groups, they are investing pension money. This is safe and vetted money. It is institutional funds and well-regulated.”
FIRB approval is required for foreign buyers of agricultural land worth $15m or more, and $55m or more for investment in agribusiness.
Foreign registered interest in Australian farmland measured 49.12 million hectares in the 12 months to June 30, 2024, rising by 3 per cent in the previous year.
Major players include Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments) who own about $8bn in Australian agricultural assets. Nuveen Natural Capital, an investment arm of the massive US teachers pension fund TIAA, also owns a portfolio worth about $4bn.
