Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Regulation 2015

What this legislation does:

This is the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Regulation 2015, which operates under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975. It sets the detailed rules for how foreign investment in Australia is regulated, including:

• Definitions: Explains who counts as a "foreign person," what constitutes a "foreign government investor," and what "Australian land," "agribusiness," and "sensitive businesses" mean
• Thresholds: Sets dollar values that trigger government review (e.g., $60 million for agribusiness, $275 million for most other investments, with higher thresholds for investors from certain countries with free trade agreements)
• Exemptions: Lists situations where foreign investors don't need approval, such as:
  • Moneylending agreements held as security
  • Acquisitions by certain funds and schemes (life insurance companies, superannuation funds)
  • Small holdings in listed companies
  • Residential land purchases by people with close connections to Australia
• Exemption certificates: Allows the Treasurer to pre-approve certain types of investments
• National security: Special rules for investments in businesses or land that affect national security
• Registration: Requires foreign persons to register certain acquisitions with the Registrar of Foreign Ownership