OWNERSHIP OF AGRICULTURAL BUSINESSES

Estimates from ALWOS indicated that the total number of agricultural businesses in Australia on 31 December 2010 was 135,600. Of this total, 133,600 agricultural businesses, or 99% of Australian agricultural businesses, were entirely Australian owned; 1,300 agricultural businesses had some level of foreign ownership; and 732 had an unknown ownership status.

Of the businesses reporting some level of foreign ownership, 139 businesses had less than 10% foreign ownership, 330 had between 10% and 50% foreign ownership, and 824 had greater than 50% foreign ownership.

Of the 824 agricultural businesses which were more than 50% foreign owned, the greatest number (313) were in New South Wales / Australian Capital Territory, 117 were in Western Australia and 107 were in Victoria.

Proportionally, Queensland had the lowest level of foreign ownership of agricultural businesses, with 0.5% of its businesses (132) reporting some level of foreign ownership. Northern Territory had the highest level of foreign ownership of agricultural businesses, with 3.2% of its businesses (20) reporting some level of foreign ownership.




The industry group reporting the highest proportion of local ownership was the Other Crop Growing group (ANZSIC 015 which includes sugar cane and cotton growing), with 99%, or 6,800 businesses, entirely Australian owned.

The industry group reporting the highest proportion of some level of foreign ownership (therefore the lowest proportion of local ownership) was the Mushroom and Vegetable Growing businesses (ANZSIC 012). Nearly 2% of this group reported some level of foreign ownership, leaving around 97% or 4,500 businesses entirely Australian owned.