NEARLY any debate on development in Australia’s north raises questions over foreign investment, and last Thursday’s North Australia Food Futures roadshow in Hughenden had its fair share.
Presentations spruiking the potential for development talked about where the capital would come from.
NT Farmers spokesman Ian Baker said “there was a lot of money looking for a home in China”.
“There’s a lot of people interested in this country.
“You can buy land here for $100/ha. In China it’s $30,000 to $50,000/ha. It’s a no-brainer, really.”
He added that most in his group were keen to see more foreign investment.
“The amount of interest in Australia is limited,” he said.
“Farm bodies are going to the media all the time and saying how tough farming is. That’s not going to encourage investment locally.”
He added that others had already said foreigners weren’t able to take land away to their country but Australia could take their money.
AgForce regional manager Paul Burke said it was a topic Australians needed to be more mature about.
“You get howled out of the room when you talk about foreign investment, but we need it,” he said.
“Look at tourism – the Japanese bought heavily in the 1980s. Does it even get talked about now?”
