Bowen is using the nasty smell attached to tax havens to great effect

Would-be treasurer Chris Bowen’s questions about the adequacy of the Foreign Investment Review Board’s application of the national interest test for approving the $4.4 billion takeover of hospitals operator Healthscope could be nothing more than politicking.

But it could also be a warning shot that a Labor government would be taking a closer look at the tax bona fides of offshore companies looking to purchase Australian assets.

Any move to restrict foreign investment must be done with particular care, in view of Australia’s dependence on offshore capital and international trade.