Minister calls for ban on foreign investment in australian farmland

Australia's Agriculture Minister has called for a ban on foreign investment in Australian farmland.

Barnaby Joyce has called for foreign governments and government-owned companies to be barred from buying agricultural land Down Under. His comments arose in the wake of 10 cattle stations being listed on the market with a price tag of $350 million and foreign government-owned companies thought to be among the contenders aiming to purchase them.

"I just don't want to see agricultural land owned by foreign governments," he told The Australian.

His comments follow much controversy surrounding foreign investment in Australian land and property, with new restrictions introduced earlier this year.