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Australia welcomes and encourages foreign investment that aligns with the national interest. Such investment is considered vital for the country's economic growth and long-term prosperity.
Australia offers investors from Asia with several advantages, including stable economic growth, a highly skilled workforce, and proximity to rapidly growing markets in Asia. Additionally, the country boasts strong governance, a robust legal system, and excellent infrastructure.
The Australian Government promotes foreign investment through its foreign investment policy, international treaties and free trade agreements.
Number of approved commercial investment proposals 2023-24​
Number of approved national security reviews​
Value of approved commercial investment proposals 2023-24​
Processing time for approved investment proposals
Australia evaluates foreign investment proposals individually under its foreign investment framework. The Australian Government has the authority to:
Approve a proposed investment without objection
Impose conditions on an investment
Prohibit a proposed investment
Require the disposal, sale, removal, or transfer of an acquired interest, or otherwise unwind a transaction.
The Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) is an advisory body within the Australian Government that evaluates investment proposals from foreign individuals and entities. It advises the Australian Treasurer on whether these proposals should be approved according to the Government's foreign investment policy and whether they adhere to the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (FATA).
Factors considered when assessing investments under the national interest test typically include national security; competition; the impact on other Australian Government policies, like tax revenues and the environment; the impact on the economy and the community; and the character of the investor.
Sensitive Sectors
Sensitive Sectors
Specific restrictions on foreign investment apply in sectors such as residential real estate, media, telecommunications, transport, defence related industries, critical infrastructure, national security businesses, national security land, encryption and security technologies and communications systems and extraction of uranium or plutonium or the operation of a nuclear facility.
Agribusiness
Agribusiness
Agribusiness is treated as a separate class of investment with its own thresholds. Any acquisition of a direct interest in an agribusiness that is above the monetary threshold is noticeable to FIRB.
Foreign Government Investors
Foreign Government Investors
Foreign government investors are treated differently from other foreign individuals or entities due to the different view that the Australian Government takes of the national interest when a foreign government is involved in the investment.
Real Estate
Real Estate
The Australian Government has a specific policy in relation to residential, commercial, agricultural real estate and mining and production tenements.
Agricultural Land
Agricultural Land
Foreign individuals or entities must notify FIRB before any acquisition of an interest in agricultural land where the cumulative value of agricultural land owned by the individual (or entity) is more than AU$ 15 million.
Mining or Production Tenements
Mining or Production Tenements
Foreign individuals or entities, other than certain agreement country investors, must obtain approval to acquire an interest in a mining or production tenement regardless of value.
Wind and Solar Farms
Wind and Solar Farms
Land on which there are developed solar, and wind farms is generally treated as developed commercial land rather than possibly being vacant commercial land or agricultural land.
National Security Land
National Security Land
Foreign investors require approval prior to acquiring an interest in national security land or acquiring a legal or equitable interest in an exploration tenement in respect of national security land, irrespective of value.
Regulatory Framework Processes
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