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Debate around foreign investment in Australia has "racist undertones": Aussie politician

Xinhua, January 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

An Australian politician has criticized opponents of foreign investment in Australia, saying some of the debate has "racist undertones."

Rene Hidding, a Tasmanian state MP, said he was concerned that discussion on the proposed sale of Australia's oldest dairy farm, Van Dieman's Land (VDL), to Chinese company Moon Lake Investments had become too nationalistic.

Several high-ranking members of Australian parliament have been lobbying Australian Treasurer Scott Morrison to veto the 195-million-U.S. dollar deal from the Chinese company, which is owned by businessman Lu Xianfeng.

Hidding said those agitating for Morrison to step in should be wary of coming off as racist.

"I always worry about that," Hidding told the Australian Broadcast Corporation (ABC) on Thursday.

"For elected members to be naming up a group of citizens from some part of the world that they're not worthy of owning our real estate is a very dangerous area to go.

"If I'm ever asked by other members of parliament as to how it ought to be handled, I always advise extreme caution."

Despite being based in Tasmania, VDL has been owned by New Zealand's New Plymouth District Council since it was established 190 years ago.

Hidding said independent MPs, such as Jackie Lambie and Andrew Wilkie, should respect the protocol, which is designed to ensure all foreign investment deals didn't negatively impact the nation.

"We're a civilised nation and we have processes in place, it's not always appropriate for people from other countries to buy our companies or our real estate," he said.

"And for that reason we have a robust Federal process, and frankly those two individuals (Jackie Lambie and Andrew Wilkie) should be leaving it to that process."

Wilkie rejected Hidding's belief that his opposition to the VDL deal was racially motivated, and said he was merely acting on the chance to reclaim an Australian-based asset.

In November, Morrison blocked the sale of South Australia company S. Kidman & Co, the nation's largest cattle operation, to Chinese buyers, citing it was not in Australia's "national interest." Endit