
Publication
ESG and internal investigations: New compliance challenges
As ESG concerns have come to the forefront in different jurisdictions, the scope of these inquiries is expanding in kind.
Australia | Publication | May 2024
The Australian Government recently announced reforms to its foreign investment framework and released an updated Foreign Investment Policy and exposure draft regulations to exempt interfunding transactions from foreign investment approval processes. The reforms will largely be implemented via changes to the Australian Government's Foreign Investment Policy, rather than through legislative changes (other than for the interfunding exemption). It is expected that the guidance notes published by the Foreign Investment Review Board will be updated over the coming months.
The recent federal Budget release noted that the Australian Government will provide A$15.7 million towards these reforms to attract significant foreign capital flows while protecting the national interest.
The key objective of the reforms is to ensure that a risk-based approach is undertaken in administering the foreign investment framework. Key changes include:
Norton Rose Fulbright has extensive experience advising clients on Australia’s foreign investment framework. We advised on the foreign investment framework for one of Australia’s largest forestry deals, and also advised global consulting construction, engineering and operating company, Egis on its acquisition of Australian and New Zealand company, Calibre Professional Services.
If you would like to discuss how the proposed changes may affect current or future Australian investments, please contact us.
Publication
As ESG concerns have come to the forefront in different jurisdictions, the scope of these inquiries is expanding in kind.
Publication
In compliance with the constitutional reforms published in the Federal Official Gazette, new secondary legislation regulating the energy sector, specifically in terms of power and hydrocarbons, was published on March 18, 2025.
Publication
In compliance with the constitutional reforms published in the Federal Official Gazette, new secondary legislation regulating the energy sector, specifically in terms of power and hydrocarbons, was published on March 18, 2025.
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