Publications

Below is a list of publications issued by the Foreign Investment Review Board. Where available, click on the publication title (eg. 1997-98 Annual Report) to read the corresponding publication on-screen, or click either the PDF or RTF memory links (eg. 200 KB) to download a copy to your own computer.

Advanced off the plan sales reporting template for developers

This template has been designed for developers to use in reporting sales as per the reporting condition in their advanced off the plan sales approval. Although use of the template is not mandatory, it has been made available to developers to simplify the reporting process for all involved.

Available for download in: Microsoft Excel (77KB)

Buying a home in Australia

This is a very brief outline of Australia’s foreign investment policy in relation to residential real estate. If you decide to go ahead and buy a home in Australia, you will need more detailed information.

Available for download in: PDF (813KB)

FIRB Service Charter

A brief description about the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB).

Available for download in:  HTML (9KB)

Annual Reports

Press Releases and Policy Statements

Copies of press releases and policy statements released prior to 1997 can be requested by emailing department@treasury.gov.au

1. Release of a set of principles to enhance the transparency of Australia’s foreign investment screening regime — Statement by the Treasurer, The Hon Wayne Swan MP — 17 February 2008.
2. Foreign Investment Proposal: Red Earth Holdings b.v. — Acquisition of an additional interest in PBL Media Holdings Pty Limited and the PBL Media Holdings Trust — Statement by the Treasurer, The Hon Peter Costello MP — 4 September 2007.
3. Foreign Investment: Canwest Global Communications Corp — Acquisition of interest in Ten Network Holdings Limited — Statement by the Treasurer, The Hon Peter Costello MP — 20 August 2007.
4. Reappointment of Chairman of Foreign Investment Review Board [Mr John Phillips AO] — Statement by the Treasurer, The Hon Peter Costello MP — 18 April 2007.
5. Qantas Airways Ltd — Joint statement by the Treasurer, The Hon Peter Costello MP, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services, The Hon Mark Vaile MP — 6 March 2007.
6. Qantas Offer — Statement by the Treasurer, The Hon Peter Costello MP — 14 December 2006.
7. Foreign Investment: Brambles Industries Limited — Statement by the Treasurer, The Hon Peter Costello MP — 9 November 2006.
8. Foreign Investment Proposal: Thales Australia Holdings Pty Limited — Acquisition of remaining 50 per cent interest in ADI Limited — Statement by the Treasurer, The Hon Peter Costello MP — 12 October 2006.
9. Reappointment of member of Foreign Investment Review Board [Ms Lynn Wood] — Statement by the Treasurer, The Hon Peter Costello MP — 29 April 2005.
10. BHP Billiton Group — No objections raised to the acquisition of WMC Resources Limited, subject to conditions — Statement by the Treasurer, The Hon Peter Costello MP — 4 April 2005.
11. FIRB: Xstrata/WMC — Statement by the Treasurer, The Hon. P. Costello, MP — 11 February 2005.
12. No Objections Raised to the Incorporations of the News Corporation in the United States — Statement by the Treasurer, The Hon. P. Costello, MP — 29 June 2004.
13. Foreign Investment Review Board: Re-appointment of The Hon Chris Miles — Statement by the Treasurer, The Hon. P. Costello, MP — 9 June 2004.
14. Foreign Investment Policy: Shareholdings in Village Roadshow Limited — seeking information from parties who have acquired shares in Village Roadshow Limited on behalf of a number of foreign investors, including interests held by Swiss nominee banks — Statement by the Treasurer, The Hon P. Costello, MP — 9 February 2004.
15. No Objection Raised to Xstrata's Acquisition of MIM Holdings ― Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. P. Costello, MP  ― 28 May 2003.
16. No Objection Raised to Mitsui’s Acquisition of Remaining Interest in Moura Mine ― Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. P. Costello, MP  ― 12 April 2002.
17. Singapore Telecommunications Limited — Acquisition of Cable & Wireless Optus Limited — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. P. Costello, MP — 28 August 2001.
18. Singapore Telecommunications Limited — Application for Foreign Investment Approval to Acquire of Cable & Wireless Optus Limited — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. P. Costello, MP — 22 August 2001.
19. Foreign Investment Approval of Brambles Industries Limited-GKN Plc Merger — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. P. Costello, MP — 26 July 2001.
20. Foreign Investment Approval of BHP Limited-Billiton Plc Merger — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. P. Costello, MP — 4 June 2001.
21. Foreign Investment Proposal — Shell Australia Investments Limited’s Acquisition of Woodside Petroleum Limited — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. P. Costello, MP — 23 April 2001.
22. Foreign Investment Case: Acquisition by Air New Zealand Limited of the News Corporation’s 50 per cent Interest in Ansett Holdings Limited — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. P. Costello, MP — 13 June 2000.
23. Virgin Receives Foreign Investment Approval — Statement by the Assistant Treasurer, Senator the Hon. Rod Kemp — 7 December 1999.
24. Foreign Investment Policy Changes — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. P. Costello, MP — 3 September 1999.
25. Foreign Investment Case: Tyndall Australia Ltd’s Portfolio Investment in John Fairfax Holdings Ltd — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. P. Costello, MP — 4 August 1998.
26. Foreign Investment Policy: Ownership Structure for the Ten Group Ltd (TGL) — Canwest/TNQ Float Proposal — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. P. Costello, MP — 6 March 1998.
27. Release of the Report of the Financial System Inquiry and Initial Government Response on Mergers Policy — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. P. Costello, MP — 9 April 1997.
28. Foreign Investment Policy: Forced Divestiture of Residential Real Estate involving Australian Trustee — Statement by the Assistant Treasurer, Senator the Hon. Rod Kemp — 11 December 1996.
29. Uranium Sector — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. P. Costello, MP — 19 November 1996.
30. Rationalisation of Notification Thresholds for Portfolio Investments in the Media Sector — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. P. Costello, MP — 18 September 1996.
31. Government Response to the Reports by the Senate Select Committee on Certain Aspects of Foreign Ownership Decisions in Relation to the Print Media — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. R. Willis, MP — 26 September 1995.
32. Foreign Investment Policy: Mass Circulation Newspapers — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. J. Dawkins, MP — 20 April 1993.
33. Modification to Foreign Investment Policy. Residential Real Estate and Developed Non-Commercial Real Estate — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. J. Dawkins, MP — 1 April 1993.
34. Economic Statement: Foreign Investment Policy Changes — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. J. Dawkins, MP — 26 February 1992.
35. Foreign Investment in the Print Media — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. J. Kerin, MP — 10 October 1991.
36. Foreign Investment Policy: Integrated Tourism Resorts — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. J. Kerin, MP — 25 July 1991.
37. Proclamation of Foreign Takeovers Amendment Act 1989 and Gazettal of Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Regulations — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. Paul Keating, MP — 6 July 1989.
38. Foreign Investment Policy: New Oil and Gas Developments — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. Paul Keating, MP — 20 January 1988.
39. Foreign Investment Policy: Developed Residential Real Estate — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. Paul Keating, MP — 29 September 1987.
40. Thin Capitalisation and Corporate Restructures in relation to Foreign Investment Policy — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. Paul Keating, MP — 30 April 1987.
41. Further Liberalisation of Foreign Investment Policy — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. Paul Keating, MP — 30 April 1987.
42. Foreign Investment Policy Relaxations — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. Paul Keating, MP — 28 July 1986.
43. Economic and Rural Policy Statement — Statement by the Acting Treasurer, the Hon. Chris Hurford, MP — 15 April 1986.
44. Review of Foreign Investment Policy — Statement by the Acting Treasurer, the Hon. Chris Hurford, MP — 29 October 1985.
45. New Banking Authorities — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. Paul Keating, MP — 27 February 1985.
46. Foreign Investment Policy and Stockbroking — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. Paul Keating, MP — 18 December 1984.
47. Participation in Banking in Australia and Other Issues of Financial Deregulation — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. Paul Keating, MP — 10 September 1984.
48. Foreign Investment Policy and Stockbroking — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. Paul Keating, MP — 18 April 1984.
49. Review of Foreign Investment Policy — Statement by the Treasurer, the Hon. Paul Keating, MP — 20 December 1983.