A proposed purchase of Lion Drinks and Dairy by a Chinese company was knocked back in 2020.
But Mr Laurenceson said Australia risked overreacting and "shooting itself in the foot" by freezing out all Chinese foreign investment, saying it sent an "aggressive" signal and was counterproductive.and the blocking of a Chinese investment in a small ASX-listed company with a lithium project in Africa.
Andrew Hay, a partner at law firm Clayton Utz who specialises in agribusiness and food investment, said foreign investment deals were still flowing, especially if they were "focused or had a significant impact on the Australian economy or jobs".