Finding Australia's sweet spot between blocking China and driving foreign investment

For the lawyers and investment bankers trying to bring billions of dollars of investment from China into Australia, it has become an immovable roadblock. For politicians alarmed at Chinese investment in nationally important infrastructure such as power and ports, it is a regulator that has been asleep at the wheel. Critics of the Foreign Investment Review Board (Firb), which advises the treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, on proposals from foreigners to invest in Australia, do not agree on much – except that the system is broken. Billions of dollars ride on Firb’s recommendations, but the board generally likes to keep a low profile.

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