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Peru-Australia Free Trade Agreement Comes Into Force

On 11 February 2020, the Peru-Australia Free Trade Agreement (PAFTA) came into force. One of the outcomes of the PAFTA is that Peruvian investors are now subject to higher monetary thresholds for foreign investment screening. For privately-owned Peruvian investors, acquisitions of non-sensitive businesses and of developed commercial land will now be subject to a threshold of $1,192 million. Amendments have been made to the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Regulation 2015 to give effect to this change.

Further information on the PAFTA is available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s website.

Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement Comes Into Force

On 17 January 2020, the Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement (AU-HKFTA) came into force. One of the outcomes of the AU-HKFTA is that Hong Kong investors are now subject to higher monetary thresholds for foreign investment screening. For privately-owned Hong Kong investors, acquisitions of non-sensitive businesses and of developed commercial land will now be subject to a threshold of $1,192 million. Amendments have been made to the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Regulation 2015 to give effect to this change.

Further information on the AU-HKFTA is available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s website.

Monetary screening thresholds updated for 2020

Monetary thresholds for foreign investors were indexed on 1 January 2020.

Christmas/New Year holiday period (updated)

Due to system maintenance, users who submit an application through the FIRB portal between 12 noon (AEDT) Thursday 24 December 2019 and 12 noon (AEDT) Thursday 2 January 2020 will not be able to pay application fees until 12 noon (AEDT) Thursday 2 January.

Reporting requirements of foreign owners of Australian media assets

End of financial year reporting to the Australian Communications and Media Authority is due by 30 July 2019.

Latest news

Christmas/New Year holiday period (updated)

19 November 2019

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Please note that applications received after 12 noon AEDT Wednesday 20 November 2019 are likely to face significant delays in processing. A case officer will contact you to discuss the time frame for your application.

Address by Mr David Irvine AO, FIRB Chair, to the Sino-Australian Investment and Financing Forum 2019, Sydney NSW

6 November 2019

I have been invited today to speak about foreign investment – how the regime works and how Australia is and will remain an attractive destination for foreign investment.

Address by Mr David Irvine AO, FIRB Chair to the Australia-China Business Council

21 August 2019

Australia continues to welcome foreign investment, including Chinese investment. We have a long standing and close relationship. It is a relationship we value and we want to preserve.

Indexation of application fees for 2019-20

1 July 2019

Foreign investment application fees have been indexed for the 2019-20 year. Revised fees will apply to applications made and notices given as of 1 July 2019. The fee schedule and further information on the application of fees is provided in Guidance Note 29 (residential land) and Guidance Note 30 (business).

A fee estimator is available to provide estimates of fees for different types of foreign investment applications.

End of financial year reporting requirements for foreign owners of Australian media assets

11 June 2019

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (the ACMA) maintains a publicly available Register of Foreign Owners of Media Assets under section 74D of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the BSA), which is a register of foreign persons who hold company interests of 2.5 per cent or more in an Australian media company.