By Greg Golding*

In recent years there has been considerable debate surrounding investment in Australia by entities affiliated with foreign governments. The benefits to Australia of foreign direct investment seem clear, even if sometimes poorly understood by the general public. This article considers the Australian regulatory regime applicable to foreign direct investment and the experience in applying that regime to investment by sovereign wealth funds and State-owned enterprises. 

The full article can be accessed here: “Australian regulation of foreign direct investment by sovereign wealth funds and State-owned enterprises: Are our rules right?” (2010) 38 ABLR 215.

* Partner, Mallesons Stephen Jaques, Sydney. Earlier drafts of this artcle were presented at the Lowy Institute Sovereign Wealth Funds in an Evolving Global Financial System (29 September 2008); and Law Council of Australia (Annual Corporations Workshop, 11-13 September 2009). The author would like to thank Rachael Bassil for providing significant assistance in the preparation of the earlier drafts of this article. The author also wishes to thank Nicholas Groffman for providing assistance on the Chinese regulatory issues discussed in this article.