OWNERSHIP OF AGRICULTURAL LAND



The area of agricultural land in Australia owned by businesses with a level of foreign ownership increased from 44.9 million hectares at 31 December 2010 to 49.6 million hectares at 30 June 2013, an increase of 4.7 million hectares.

In 2013, the vast majority (95%) of the total area of agricultural land owned by businesses with a level of foreign ownership (47.2 million hectares) was owned by 45 businesses. Each of these businesses had land holdings over 100,000 hectares in size. Similarly in 2010, the majority (94%) of the total area of agricultural land owned by businesses with a level of foreign ownership (42.2 million hectares) was owned by 44 businesses, each with land holdings over 100,000 hectares in size.

By contrast, the area of agricultural land owned by smaller-sized businesses with a level of foreign ownership (i.e. businesses with land holdings of less than 400 hectares) fell from 86,000 hectares in 2010 (owned by 680 businesses) to 32,000 hectares in 2013 (owned by 310 businesses).

Of the states and territories, Victoria had the lowest proportion of its agricultural land owned by businesses with a level of foreign ownership (2.0% or 238,000 hectares). The Northern Territory had the highest proportion of its agricultural land owned by businesses with a level of foreign ownership (32% or 17.7 million hectares).

The proportion of agricultural land in each state and territory owned by wholly Australian-owned businesses is illustrated in the map below.

The majority of agricultural land owned by businesses with a level of foreign ownership (97% or 48 million hectares) was accounted for by businesses in the sheep, beef cattle and grain farming (ANZSIC 014) industry.

The proportion of agricultural land owned by wholly Australian-owned businesses by industry is illustrated in the graph below.