2021 observation
Australians’ longstanding scepticism about foreign investment persists in 2021. Revisiting a question asked in the 2008 Poll about whether companies with links to foreign governments should be permitted to invest in Australian companies, the vast majority of Australians oppose foreign government-controlled entities purchasing controlling stakes in Australian companies. However, some countries elicit stronger opposition than others.
Nine in ten Australians (92%) would oppose a Chinese-government controlled entity purchasing a controlling stake in an Australian company. Hong Kong is the fifth-largest source of foreign investment in Australia. However, 86% say they would oppose a Hong Kong-government controlled entity purchasing a controlling a stake in an Australian company.
The majority of Australians would also oppose entities controlled by liberal democratic governments from purchasing a controlling stake in an Australian company. Two-thirds of Australians say they would oppose such a purchase from an entity controlled by the Japanese government (68%), the government of a European Union member (67%), and the United States government (66%). The lowest level of opposition is expressed towards an entity controlled by the government of the United Kingdom (58%). The United States, United Kingdom, Belgium and Japan are the top four sources of foreign investment in Australia.