[AlanD]

On the question of bailouts of foreign owned businesses operating in Australia who ask for Government assistance in times of trouble.

I have been heard to say, but not here, that any use of Taxpayer funds for this purpose should only be considered if the company concerned is willing to provide the government with a quantity of the comapney's shares to the value of the level of funding being asked for.

If they went to the share-holders or the market for a capital injection they would have to do that.

Then, if the company chose to fold its tent in this country, the government could sell the shares and recoup some of the capital provided. Provided of course that the company shares were still viable overseas. If the company was bankrupt then the taxpayer loses, but this would be no different to what has happened with many of the assistance grants that have been provided in the past.

BTW the return to Govco from such companies activities is mostly from us, the taxpayer, in the various taxes and charges levied by Govco on the products being sold here.

And again: back to the pandemic

Cheers

Cheers