The Australian National Contact Point

The Australian National Contact Point (ANCP), established in 1991, is the Executive Member of the Foreign Investment Review Board (who is also the General Manager of the Foreign Investment and Trade Policy Division at the Treasury). The ANCP is assisted by his/her division at the Treasury and is able to draw on expertise from other government agencies through an informal inter-governmental network.

Since 2001, an important function of the ANCP has been to provide a forum for discussion with relevant stakeholders, including businesses, non‑government organisations, and other government departments and agencies, on matters relating to the Guidelines. Consultations are held at least once a year to complement the schedule of meetings of the OECD Committee on Investment. These sessions aim to provide a forum for stakeholders to address issues under the Guidelines with the ANCP and to promote the Guidelines as a useful framework for business.

As part of the ANCP’s role to encourage the effective implementation and promotion of the Guidelines, the ANCP undertakes the following activities:

develops and publicises a Service Charter on the Guidelines and the role of the ANCP to multinational enterprises and more broadly;
cooperates with the business community, trade unions, non‑government organisations, other government departments and agencies, and the public;
contributes to the resolution of issues related to the Guidelines;
conducts seminars and consultation sessions on the Guidelines with business, non‑government organisations, other government departments and agencies, and the interested public;
responds to any enquiries about the Guidelines and ensures that the Guidelines are accessible;
maintains an information website at www.ausncp.gov.au;
reports annually to the OECD Investment Committee on its activities;
cooperates and consults with other National Contact Points;
investigates complaints under the specific instance mechanism in accordance with the ANCP’s specific instance procedures;
in an effort to help involved parties come to a resolution, makes available and accessible the office of the ANCP to facilitate mediated outcomes of a specific instance;
prepares reports of findings and a statement of outcome for specific instances.

The ANCP is committed to carrying out these responsibilities in accordance with the Guidelines requirement for NCPs to be visible, accessible, transparent, and accountable.