Mr ZAPPIA (1:58 PM) —I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Amendment Bill 2009, albeit that I have less than 60 seconds before question time. It is good to see some of the members of the opposition coming in here today. Hopefully they might be able to come in with some good news that they have reached agreement on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme amendments that we have been negotiating with them in good faith, because it is so important for our nation to get on with the implementation of that legislation.

I do welcome the opportunity to speak on the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Amendment Bill because this bill, too, is in Australia’s national interest. The purpose of the bill is to improve the integrity of Australia’s foreign investment screening regime by ensuring that the government has the capacity to examine all investment proposals that could potentially be against Australia’s national interest. The amendments are designed to capture foreign investments that have the potential to provide substantial influence—

The SPEAKER —Order! It being 2 pm, the debate is interrupted in accordance with standing order 97. The debate may be resumed at a later hour and the member for Makin will have leave to continue speaking when the debate is resumed.