The annual tracking study from the university's East Asian Bureau of Economic Research recorded A$1 billion of Chinese investment in 2020, consisting of real estate , mining and manufacturing deals.
"It reflects the effects of Covid-19 but also more scrutiny of foreign investment by the Australian government, particularly that from China," he said. Treasurer Josh Frydenburg said in June the national security test would be applied to telecommunications, energy and utilities firms, and businesses that collect data.
The Chinese embassy said in November that 10 Chinese investments had been blocked in Australia on national security grounds, among a list of 14 grievances Beijing had about Australian government policy.