Chinese money - not a big, bad wolf

Australia's politicians, economists and analysts agree foreign investment, including from China, in real estate is key to economic growth

Sydney - Foreign investment in real estate has long been a politically and financially contentious issue in Australia - despite bipartisan political support for foreign investment from both sides of the party divide to allow overseas investment in property.

Analysts say that in the face of popularly widespread doubts to the contrary, it plays a positive dynamic role and is key to the workings of the local real estate market and the wider economy.