Sep 4, 2026 – 2.46pmSovereign wealth funds are avoiding investments in Australia because of punishing approvals processes and long delays to get deals done, warns Macquarie chief executive Shemara Wikramanayake, adding that the country needs to move faster to streamline regulation.Urging policymakers to adopt more of a “sense of crisis”, Wikramanayake said Australia was at risk of losing out to rivals such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Singapore as they stepped up efforts to attract global capital.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles