Turnbull backs Kidman move as foreign cash drops

Original article by David Uren, David Crowe
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 2-May-16

A report from the OECD indicates that foreign investment in Australia fell by 44 per cent in 2015, to US22.6bn ($A29.7bn). This compares with $US39.6bn in 2014 and $US55.9bn in 2013. Australia’s share of global foreign investment in developed economies has fallen to just 1.1 per cent, down from 7.5 per cent between 2011 and 2013. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says a preliminary decision by Treasurer Scott Morrison to block the sale of S. Kidman & Company to Chinese interests is justified given the sheer size of the landholding.

CORPORATES
ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, S KIDMAN AND COMPANY PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, SKY NEWS

ASIC puts heat on unlawful spruikers

Original article by Duncan Hughes
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 33 : 7-Dec-15

The Australian Securities & Investments Commission will continue to target individuals and companies that promote the use of self-managed superannuation funds to invest in the property market. The Australian Taxation Office estimates that SMSFs account for about 33 per cent of the $A1.7bn that is held by super funds. Meanwhile, the value of limited-recourse loans taken out by SMSFs has blown out from around $A755m to $A15bn in the last five years.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, PARK TRENT PROPERTIES GROUP PTY LTD, SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES, OMNIWEALTH PTY LTD, SUPERANNUATION WAREHOUSE AUSTRALIA, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Agents enter FIRB ‘grey area’

Original article by Michael Bleby
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 34 : 20-Nov-15

Australian real estate agents must familiarise themselves with new foreign investment laws on residential property which come into effect in December 2015. Property lawyer John Turnbull says non-compliance could result in civil penalties of up to $A45,000 for individuals and $A225,000 for companies. Some confusion may arise from the new rules not being sufficiently clear.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, KAY AND BURTON, THE REAL ESTATE INSTITUTE OF NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD

FIRB may scare off Asian buyers, warns Maddocks

Original article by Rebecca Thistleton
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 41 : 31-Mar-15

Law firm Maddocks claims that the proposed restrictions on foreign investment in Australian residential property have had a negative impact on demand in the sector. The Foreign Investment Review Board recommended the introduction of new fees and stricter rules for foreign investors. Maddocks partner Nick Holuigue has warned that foreign investors could choose to invest elsewhere if the Government implements the new rules

CORPORATES
MADDOCKS, ASPAIL GROUP, HIAP HOE LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD

Outrage over PM’s property hit

Original article by Phillip Coorey, Matthew Cranston
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 26-Feb-15

The Australian Government’s proposals to crack down on foreign investors in the residential property market has the support of Master Builders Australia CEO Wilhelm Harnisch. However, buyers advocate David Morrell says the proposed application fees should be higher, although the Real Estate Institute of Australia believes that the fees are too high. The Government plans to introduce a fee of up to one per cent of the value of new or established residential properties bought by foreign investors

CORPORATES
MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, THE REAL ESTATE INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, RAY WHITE REAL ESTATE, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, NEW SOUTH WALES. THE TREASURY, PROPERTY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CBRE PTY LTD