Foreign investment scrutiny is right: PM

Tony Abbott believes different rules should apply to foreign governments looking to buy Australian land, but the prime minister won't go as far as one of his ministers who has called for a ban.

Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce has told The Australian he doesn't want to see agricultural land owned by foreign governments because it could undermine our national interests.

But Mr Abbott told reporters in Canberra while it was proper that foreign government investment was scrutinised from the "very first dollar", existing rules would always apply.