What absolute drivel! I can't believe the Nationals would sacrifice a $500mil development for the sake of pandering to a few cockies who are acting out of self interest like everyone else. Also, if Mr Joyce wants to limit our dealings with the next economic powerhouse because he does not like the colour of it's government, then we are on a slippery slope indeed.
I think Barnaby should take a reality pill and think carefully about casting dispersions on those of us who have made prudent business decisions to the benefit of our families.

Hang on this government is China. Whatever business is bought in Australia by China that is not a democratic government is going down a mighty slippery slope.The money was obviously too good to resist but you may have just sold your soul.
Labor is so far in debt ,how much more extremely productive land will be bought by them under the guise of development.?

Unbelievable, what can the people do to stop this? This Government has not listened last time when Chinalco was on the front page? Which part of enough is not being understood by Messrs Rudd, Swan, and FIRB?

Rudd & Swan want us to become a communists country so why am I not surprised - it is one part of there overall agenda - sent the country broke and go from there

Just goes to show how some people only consider their own selfish money interests and don't care a hoot that they are selling our God given land to another nation ...in this case ...a totalitarian nation that abuses normal human rights ...China.

The problem with their selfishness is that we too are Australians ...and they have sold part of our birthright to the trojan horse of China. That sort of treason, we do not swallow as Australians.

The Chinese Government has being buying more of our Australian turf as well. It now owns some of our best iron ore, coal, zinc and copper mines and land. It won't be very hard for them to import their "chinese skilled labour" via the 457 visa in the future ...and simply take us over.

Rudd is too scared to say anything that might upset the Chinese Government because he has been bought by them ...to the tune of over $400 million Australian Government Bonds that the Chinese Government buys every week. Why hasn't the gagged Press alerted Australian's to these darkside undercurrents that persuade Kevin's thinking?

That's why Kevin 07 can pump $$$$$ into this illusionary false national economy that we are experiencing. It is another bubble of insurmountable National Debt that will eventually turn us into slaves to the Chinese Government.

They won't need to use their bombs and submarines ...they won't even need to make a phone call ...they will simply have done it by waving their Yuan.

Sadly, Australians will undo their own security of over 200 years by their own money grabbing selfishness ...and "hang everyone else" ...philosophy of greed and self justification.

I think a lot of Australians have lost touch with reality. Why, in God's name, would ANYONE sell good agricultural land to communist China?! If they use the land for mining, it is common knowledge that they have the worst mining practices in the world. If they use the land for agriculture, the bio-security risks to our country don't bear thinking about. Almost every plant in China is diseased!
Isn't it obvious that the Chinese are already doing their best to interfere as much as possible in Australia's domestic affairs? Is this what the people of Australia want? A future dictated by an avaricious, malicious and malevolent power?
Keep after it Barnaby. Please try to find ways that will mobilise more Australians to do their bit to STOP this horrendous scenario.

$500bn for an exploration licence?? i.e. to go and have a look to see if there is anything there
What usually follows an exploration licence is a Development application and an inquiry into the environmental impacts of the mine.
In NSW these are almost always approved and the environmental impacts found to be minimal. Look at the Hunter Valley
Even so, who would spend that much money if he didn't know the result of the D/A and the Inquiry?
In NSW some people say that you know the result if you make the appropriate payments beforehand like $500bn
Some even say that a donation to the NSW ALP will suffice.
Swan could hardly knock back the purchase of the land when his comrades in NSW had taken the money and given the nod.

This sort of thing is exactly why Australia should move away from making our economy totally dependent on mining and minerals exports. Rudds vision for Australia in 100 years is thousands of empty mining pits filled with pollution, all connected to well developed road, rail and port, not much of a legacy to leave to our descendents. Proper long term infrastructure should involve developing self sustaining communities based around green jobs. These communities would be a way to responsibly increase our population.

The Labour party has not approved any of these type of developments. As long as our economy is so totally dependent on selling minerals , we will be at the mercy of countries such as China and the world economy in general. Australia has all the ingredience to be a totally self sufficient nation, except for past and present governments that just want to rake in quick dollars.

A self sustaining community could begin immediately in the vicinity of Coopers basin where the geothermal energy is being developed. An eco house manufacturing plant could be established there to build energy independent housing. By the way, BHP is using half the geothermal energy to run one of their mines, I wonder how much they pay for their electricity relative to the rest of us. Another secret deal between government and big business? As an Australian, I am getting fed up with governments putting big business before the needs of average people and the proper development of this country.

Krudd has sold us all out, lets swap him for Shapelle. Is anyone really supprised at the height of his treason. 33 years in max is what he should be doing.

Now the Australian rare earths supplier, Lynas Corporation, is being taken over by the Chinese Gov't owned China Non-Ferrous Metal Mining Co (CNMC).

China already controls Rare Earths' supplies, used in compact fluorescent light bulbs, flat-panel displays and iPods. Now it is tightening its grip on world supplies.

Australia's best mines and land is steadily becoming Chinese Government owned. Why is our Government so willingly naive or complicit to the Chinese Government steady takeover of our Australia??

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGZHvyUhxLQ&feature=channel_page

The Thai based PTTEP Australasia that runs the leaking Kimberly oil rig is denying liability for any damage to the Kimberly caost. This, along with not having a spare rig available immediately when the leak occured is not good enough.

It's up to the Federal government when negotiating these contracts to put stricter conditions on these overseas firms in order to protect Australia's environment.

Rudd & Swan want us to become a communists country so why am I not surprised - it is one part of there overall agenda - sent the country broke and go from there

First Kevin Rudd wants to sign the Copenhagen treaty and now sell land to the Chinese Govt?????? For mining and other mineral exploration??????? Will China contribute to our emissions scheme???????? You have got to be joking!!
Somebody please tell me it's just a joke

I believe that no land or property in Australia should be able to be owned by other then Australian citizens or Australian owned and controlled companies. I understand this is the case overseas. What would be the result of an Australian purchasing property in China?

They may be able to lease, but I doubt they can own.

The Govt. is banking on the UN succeeding in reducing the population by 75% as per Agenda 21. That way we wont need so much food and we can turn the whole of Australia into one big quarry

My god how stupid is the Rudd goverment. Lets keep just selling off Australia to the rest of the world,so they can use it like they wish and when they have finished with it leave it for us to deal with. WHO cares about Australia. NOT RUDD and his mates. You can not buy land in China if you are not Chinese so why can China by land here. Double standards. Our goverment is mad OUT RUDD.

The term 'International investment' that is used for these acquisitions just whitewashes the fact that we are 'selling the farm'. Not only are many national income earning assets now in the hands of a non democratic government but the Double Taxation Act can see most of that income going offshore. This particular sale was surely done just to help out a bungling, spendthrift NSW government.

Ah, New England. - Welcome to the latest province of New South Shanghai.

Shenhua Watermark, a supposed Chinese coal mining corporation, is happy to settle for the farming potential alone, and they are willing to tie up $500m for the privilege

Methinks Swan and his ilk at the FIRB are badly in need of a reality check - Coal miner suddenly turned coloniser, would be a good thought to mull over

great post thanks