Per SBS: "Foreign investors will face a...>

AUSTRALIA: Per SBS: "Foreign investors will face a tough new national security

test designed to protect critical assets from falling into the wrong hands. The

Morrison government is proposing an overhaul of foreign investment laws which

could further inflame tensions with China. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton

denied the move was targeted at Beijing. "It's not country specific. We're

looking at lots of examples at the moment," he told the Nine Network on Friday.

"Our country at the moment faces more foreign interference than we've seen in

decades. We want to make sure that we put our national interests ahead of

anything else." The new test would apply to foreign bids for technology,

telecommunications and energy companies, as well as small-scale defence and

services firms. No minimum dollar threshold will be needed to trigger the

national security test. The treasurer will have expanded powers to force the

sale of assets or impose conditions after a deal is reached if national security

is at risk. "