This Act deals with certain actions to acquire interests in securities, assets or Australian land, and actions taken in relation to entities (being corporations and unit trusts) and businesses, that have a connection to Australia. These actions are called significant actions. For an action to be a significant action, the action must in most cases result in a change in control involving a foreign person or be taken by a foreign person.

This Act also deals with actions taken by persons that have, or may have, implications for Australia's national security. These actions may or may not be significant actions. Actions relating to a national security business or national security land are notifiable national security actions. If an action is a reviewable national security action, or a significant action that is not a notifiable action or a notifiable national security action, the Treasurer may review the action if the Treasurer considers that the action may pose a national security concern.

If a person proposes to take or has taken an action, the Treasurer has power to do one or more of the following:

  (a)   decide that the Commonwealth has no objection to the action;

  (b)   impose conditions on the action;

  (c)   prohibit the action;

  (d)   require the action to be undone (for example, by requiring the disposal of an interest that has been acquired).

Offences and civil penalties apply for failing to comply with:

  (a)   an order made prohibiting an action, or requiring an action to be undone; or

  (b)   a condition imposed on an action.

Significant actions that are notifiable actions, and notifiable national security actions, must generally be notified to the Treasurer before the actions can be taken. Offences and civil penalties may apply if a notifiable action is taken without a notice having been given. Broadly, if a notice has been given stating that a significant action is proposed to be taken, the action must not be taken before the end of a specified period (generally of 40 days, or an additional period of up to 90 days from the registration of an interim order).

Fees are payable in relation to applications and orders made, and notices and notifications given, under this Act.

A person must make and keep records for the purposes of this Act, including in relation to significant actions and notifiable actions. Information that is obtained for the purposes of this Act (called protected information) may be disclosed only for certain purposes. A person who obtains, uses or discloses protected information other than as authorised by this Act may commit an offence.

The Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets is kept under Part   7A.

The Register records certain actions relating to interests acquired, held or disposed of by foreign persons. A foreign person who takes such an action (which may or may not be a significant action or a notifiable action, or otherwise covered by this Act) must give a register notice to the Registrar. In some circumstances, other people must also give notices to the Register. A civil penalty applies to a failure to give a notice under Part   7A.