This paper reports recent changes in Australia’s foreign investment policy as released by the Foreign Investment Review Board in January 2011.

It also explores trends in global foreign direct investment as covered in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development 2010 World Investment Report (released on 22 July 2010). Lastly, this Background Note analyses the dynamics of two way investments between Australia and its investment partners during the past eight years, based on data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on 30 July 2010.