Chinese investment in Australia last year topped almost 11.5 billion US dollars, and was the highest since the global financial crisis, according to a new report. 

The report by KPMG and the University of Sydney's China Studies Centre also said Australia retained its position as the second largest recipient of Chinese Outbound Direct Investment, with data showing close to USD 90 billion of accumulated new investment since 2007.

Australia’s commercial real estate continues to attract the most Chinese investment, with a steady 10% increase in the amount of Chinese investment each year since 2013.

The KPMG report cited a couple of high profile knock backs to proposed Chinese investment deals in energy and agriculture over national interest concerns, and added Chinese investors want more clarity over any future tightening of the country’s foreign investment rules.