This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/12/indonesian-beef-plan

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Barnaby Joyce: Indonesian beef plan not in national interest Barnaby Joyce: Indonesian beef plan not in national interest
(6 days later)
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has called on Australians “to make a big noise” to help him convince the new Abbott government to reject a plan by the Indonesian government to buy 1m hectares of Australian farmland to breed beef for the Indonesian market.Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has called on Australians “to make a big noise” to help him convince the new Abbott government to reject a plan by the Indonesian government to buy 1m hectares of Australian farmland to breed beef for the Indonesian market.
The Indonesian cabinet has reportedly resolved to solve its beef supply shortfall by approving the purchase of up to 1m hectares of Australian land through an Indonesian state-owned enterprise, where cattle would be bred before being shipped to Indonesian feedlots and abattoirs.The Indonesian cabinet has reportedly resolved to solve its beef supply shortfall by approving the purchase of up to 1m hectares of Australian land through an Indonesian state-owned enterprise, where cattle would be bred before being shipped to Indonesian feedlots and abattoirs.
Joyce, who is being touted as agriculture minister in the incoming Abbott government, told Guardian Australia there was “nothing xenophobic” in his strong rejection of that kind of proposal.Joyce, who is being touted as agriculture minister in the incoming Abbott government, told Guardian Australia there was “nothing xenophobic” in his strong rejection of that kind of proposal.
“I will not be bullied into a position where people say this is xenophobic. I cannot possibly see how it is in the national interest, what benefit is it to Australian farmers, to Australian taxpayers, if another entity buys our land to breed their cattle, exports them to their own facilities and pays tax in another country.“I will not be bullied into a position where people say this is xenophobic. I cannot possibly see how it is in the national interest, what benefit is it to Australian farmers, to Australian taxpayers, if another entity buys our land to breed their cattle, exports them to their own facilities and pays tax in another country.
“We want to be a partner in the growth of the food economy in northern Australia, not just the location of it,” said Joyce, who moved from the Senate to the lower house in the election, winning the New South Wales seat of New England.“We want to be a partner in the growth of the food economy in northern Australia, not just the location of it,” said Joyce, who moved from the Senate to the lower house in the election, winning the New South Wales seat of New England.
“I have real concerns about this and the public really need to start making a noise about it because they don’t believe me in Canberra that this is a real issue out here,” he said.“I have real concerns about this and the public really need to start making a noise about it because they don’t believe me in Canberra that this is a real issue out here,” he said.
The reported Indonesian plan involves cattle being raised on an Indonesian-owned Australian property, before being taken to an Indonesian feedlot.The reported Indonesian plan involves cattle being raised on an Indonesian-owned Australian property, before being taken to an Indonesian feedlot.
The Greens have similar concerns to Joyce’s. Agriculture spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert said the reports about the intended farmland purchase “should set off major alarm bells”.The Greens have similar concerns to Joyce’s. Agriculture spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert said the reports about the intended farmland purchase “should set off major alarm bells”.
“This will be the first test for the Liberal-National Coalition as to whether they put Australia’s national interest first by protecting Australia’s prime agricultural land and water,” she said.“This will be the first test for the Liberal-National Coalition as to whether they put Australia’s national interest first by protecting Australia’s prime agricultural land and water,” she said.
“In this century of food insecurity, the government should be protecting Australian farms from overseas land buyers and investors. What other country in the world would allow a foreign government to buy 1m hectares of land? It certainly wouldn’t happen in China or the US, so why is it happening here?,” she said.“In this century of food insecurity, the government should be protecting Australian farms from overseas land buyers and investors. What other country in the world would allow a foreign government to buy 1m hectares of land? It certainly wouldn’t happen in China or the US, so why is it happening here?,” she said.
“Once you sell land to another country, that’s it … you will never get it back. That’s why the Greens have a plan to prohibit the purchase of agricultural land and water by foreign governments.”“Once you sell land to another country, that’s it … you will never get it back. That’s why the Greens have a plan to prohibit the purchase of agricultural land and water by foreign governments.”
The plan would represent a second big challenge for the incoming government’s attitude towards foreign investment.The plan would represent a second big challenge for the incoming government’s attitude towards foreign investment.
The National party is also demanding the blocking of a $3bn foreign bid for grain handling company Graincorp by US-based food giant Archer Daniels Midland.The National party is also demanding the blocking of a $3bn foreign bid for grain handling company Graincorp by US-based food giant Archer Daniels Midland.
ADM has launched a strong lobbying effort to convince the incoming treasurer, Joe Hockey, of the merits of the sale. Hockey will make a final decision after receiving a recommendation from the independent Foreign Investment Review Board in mid-November about whether it is in the national interest.ADM has launched a strong lobbying effort to convince the incoming treasurer, Joe Hockey, of the merits of the sale. Hockey will make a final decision after receiving a recommendation from the independent Foreign Investment Review Board in mid-November about whether it is in the national interest.
Liberal “dries” and leading business figures argue a rejection of the deal would contradict Tony Abbott’s declaration that the Coalition’s election meant Australia was once again “open for business”.Liberal “dries” and leading business figures argue a rejection of the deal would contradict Tony Abbott’s declaration that the Coalition’s election meant Australia was once again “open for business”.
The Coalition has promised to reduce the threshold for consideration of the sale of farmland to foreign buyers from $248m down to $15m, but the criteria for decision making would be left the same. The FIRB, and the treasurer, must decide whether a foreign investment proposal is in Australia’s “national interest”. The Nationals have failed in their bid to more definitively and explicitly define what is meant by “the national interest”.The Coalition has promised to reduce the threshold for consideration of the sale of farmland to foreign buyers from $248m down to $15m, but the criteria for decision making would be left the same. The FIRB, and the treasurer, must decide whether a foreign investment proposal is in Australia’s “national interest”. The Nationals have failed in their bid to more definitively and explicitly define what is meant by “the national interest”.
During the election campaign, former prime minister Kevin Rudd was criticised for saying he had concerns about the sale of agricultural land to foreign companies which were not part of a partnership with an Australian concern.During the election campaign, former prime minister Kevin Rudd was criticised for saying he had concerns about the sale of agricultural land to foreign companies which were not part of a partnership with an Australian concern.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday.