Despite Warnings, Offshore Investors Continue to Buy Australian Agricultural Land

DESPITE warnings from Queensland independent Bob Katter, overseas investors are continuing to snap up Australian agriculture land.

This time, the Swedish National Pension Fund is teaming with US institutional investor TIAA-CREF, making a commitment to invest more in Australia.

Through its Westchester Group, TIAA-CREF already controls 180,000 hectares of cropping country. The “TIAA” refers to the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America, which took an 85 per cent controlling interest in Westchester Group late last year.

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Qatari Government Buys More Rural Australian Property

HASSAD – the agricultural arm of the Qatari government – is in negotiations to buy five properties in western Victoria, in a deal reportedly worth $45 million.

The portfolio will bring the value of Australian assets purchased by the overseas group in the past twelve months to over $100 million.

Hassad is said to be considering purchasing another major property in NSW from one of the Victorian vendors.

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