文: Damien Tudehope / 翻译: Angelbaby
不久前，新南威尔士州政府欲出售Ausgrid电网公司99年的租约，几家来自中国的企业对此表示兴趣，这件事在澳大利亚掀起了轩然大波。 在我看来，某些歇斯底里的评论是反应过激了。
对此事件，我的观点如下：
出售的只是租约，而且合约中明确表示，但凡殃及澳大利亚的国家利益，此租约会被立刻终止。
电线杆和电线依然是新州政府的财产。整个交易并没有转让新州任何财产的所有权。
投资方的义务仅仅是提供服务。唯一与此相关的担忧应该是投资方是否有能力提供这样的服务。
澳大利亚对外国投资有专门的审批流程，国家利益和国民担忧都是会被纳入考虑的。我认为，目前对于潜在的中国投资这一事件上，有太多的误导信息。公众更应把注意力集中在的是投资人是否有着交付服务的能力。
同时这也是对澳大利亚的一种肯定，说明澳大利亚的基础设施对海外投资者是有着极强的吸引力，某些政客因此担忧中国投资会对澳大利亚的国家安全有所威胁，在我看来，他们不过是在以国家利益为由，在玩弄政治游戏罢了。
Damien Tudehope，新南威尔士州议员
1979年起从事律师工作。2011年4月至2014年5月，任前新州议员、新州司法部长 Greg Smith办公室的总务主管。2015年3月当选为州议员，代表Epping选区 。Epping的选区包括以下地区：Epping、Cheltenham、Beecroft、Cherrybrook，还有 West Pennant Hills和Castle Hill的一些部分。从2015年8月起，Damien Tudehope 议员正式成为 Domain中文版《澳房汇》微大展的特约专栏作者。如有特定的问题和话题希望请教Damien，请发邮件至 [email protected]
Chinese Investment in Australia
A significant amount of attention has recently been given to the matter of Chinese investment in Australia. The sale of Ausgrid by the New South Wales government has attracted the attention of a Chinese company interested in purchasing the 99-year lease of Ausgrid (“poles and wires”). In my view, there is a significant amount of hysteria that surrounds some of the commentary relating to this investment. I would make the following points:
The sale is a leasehold and clearly it is open to the drafters of the lease to include terms that, in the event of any development occurring which is contrary to Australia’s national interest, the lease would be terminated.
The “poles and wires” remain the property of the New South Wales government. There are no assets being taken from New South Wales.
The obligations of the investor are to provide services. The only relevant consideration should be the ability of the investor in delivering those services.
Australia has in place an approval process for foreign investment which takes into account the benefits that Australia would receive from overseas, as well as any national concerns which may arise. It is my view that much of the discussion surrounding the potential sale to a Chinese investor is ill-informed, and should be focusing principally on the ability of the investor to deliver services. It is in many respects a compliment to Australia that Australian infrastructure is so attractive to overseas investors.
Those politicians that seek to exploit concerns about Chinese investment on security grounds appear to me to be playing politics with this issue.
