Introduction

Our aim in this paper is to briefly analyse Australia's investment policy, particularly in relation to investor state dispute settlement (ISDS), with reference to its regional economic concerns and growing trade relations with the Pacific Rim countries. Australia's goal, understandably, is to maximise trade and investment while maintaining sound foreign relations with the global community, as well as ensuring that its sovereign ability to implement domestic legislation in the public interest is not compromised. In pursuit of the latter aim, the Australian Labor Government's 2011 Policy ...