Asians shun Australia

Asians shun Australia

PERTH, Australia (AFP): Multi-million dollar investments in the Western Australian ostrich industry are being threatened by the fallout from Australia's bitter debate over Asian immigration, The West Australian reported yesterday.

It quoted a major breeder, Geoff Todman, as saying two Singaporean investors had already delayed investing in his business after becoming alarmed over reports of Australian anti- Asian sentiments in overseas news media.

Two other potential investors had contacted Todman asking about Australian attitudes to Asians, the report said.

Todman and his wife Alberta run one of Western Australia's biggest ostrich businesses in Gingin, 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of here.

They are trying to attract Asian partners because the Asian region is an important market for ostrich products.

Each foreign investor brought in between A$50,000 (nearly US$40,000) and A$7 million, Todman said.