Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen believes the federal coalition government is sending investors mixed signals over the proposed sale of agribusiness Graincorp to a US company.
The Nationals oppose the private sector deal on the grounds it would place most of Australia's grain infrastructure in foreign hands.
But Treasurer Joe Hockey has repeatedly used the election of a coalition government to assure global investors that Australia is "open for business".
"The strongest opposition to foreign investment in the Australian Parliament is actually coming from within the government," Mr Bowen said in a statement on Monday.
"The coalition government is sending troubling and poor signals to foreign investors."
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The sale was approved by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in June.
The government is now itself considering whether to approve the $3.4 billion offer for GrainCorp, Australia's largest grains handler, from US grain giant Archer Daniels Midland.
Mr Hockey is due to give the final verdict on the transaction on December 17, after taking advice from the Foreign Investment Review Board which oversees significant assets sales to overseas companies.
On Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss again questioned whether giving control of Graincorp's ports and handling facilities to a foreign outfit would threaten Australia's food security.
