From the AFR:
Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey has defended the performance of the Foreign Investment Review Board and ruled out an overhaul of the national interest test under an Abbott government amid calls from within the Coalition for a more rigorous national interest test.
…“I do not see any need for changes to the national interest test nor do I see any need for dramatic change to foreign investment rules.”
…“Be that the Australian government or any other governments; it’s entirely consistent with the principles we’ve stated before, that governments should not be in the business of owning commercial businesses,” Mr Hockey said.
Ah, no. Abbott’s gaff did not repeat a previously stated position. He said:
“it would rarely be in Australia’s national interest to allow a foreign government or its agencies to control an Australian business”.
Which is a far more sweeping condemnation of SOE FDI than I’ve ever seen from an Australian politician outside of the Barnaby nut club.
Clearly Hockey is in damage control for the Coalition and trying to hide the Abbott Declaration behind existing FIRB arrangements. And well he should. Kudos done to the AFR to have picked and run with the issue following some prompting by MB.
The question now is, is Abbott a member of the Barnaby nut club or not? We need clarification.
