Advanced search
image
Travel & living abroad

Asia and Oceania

Australia

 Flag of Australia

Last updated: 21 May 2009

Country information

International relations

Foreign policy

Australia sees itself as a middle-ranking power, with global interests. Australia maintains close ties with Europe and North America, and has a history of active engagement throughout Asia. Australia places particular emphasis on its long-standing security and intelligence relationships with the US and UK. Australia supports continued US strategic engagement in Asia as an essential contribution to regional stability and prosperity and their bilateral relationship is underpinned by the 1952 ANZUS treaty. In recent years Australia has worked hard diplomatically to strengthen its links with the EU and in October 2008 the EU-Australia Partnership Framework was launched. Close engagement with its Asian neighbours is a high priority in Australian foreign and trade policy. The Australian Government pays particular attention to building a strategic economic partnership with China and is engaged in negotiating a Free Trade Agreement. In 2007 Australia hosted the APEC Summit in Sydney. Australia has established human rights dialogues with China, Vietnam and Burma. The Rudd government has defined its foreign policy priorities as the relationship with the US, multilateralism, and its relationships with the region; this in contrast with the previous Howard administration which was criticised for putting the relationship with the US ahead of all else – including participating in the invasion of Iraq.  Australia is seeking election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council from 2013.  

Security

In its immediate neighbourhood Australia is helping to restore sound governance and political stability to the fragile states of the Solomon Islands through its primary role in RAMSI (Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste as the largest contributor to Operation Astute (in support of the UNMIT mission)and Papua New Guinea through the bilateral Defence Cooperation Programme. It currently has approximately 1800 ADF and AFP personnel deployed in these three countries.
Further afield, Australia expects to deploy up to 1550 ADF personnel in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Stabilisation and Assistance Force (ISAF), a significant uplift from the 1090 ADF personnel already deployed in Afghanistan. This deployment is primarily in Oruzgan Province with focus on training Afghan security forces.
Australia withdrew its combat troops from Iraq in mid 2008 and now only has a small detachment of 80 to provide local security for the Australian Embassy. In summary, approximately 3,300 ADF personnel are deployed overseas to protect Australia and its national interests, with a further 500 involved in maritime protection around its coastline.

The Defence White Paper published on 2 May 2009 set out the future size and force structure of the ADF. This was amplified by the publication on 1 Jul 09 of the Defence Capability Plan, which set out the Department’s equipment spending plans over the coming 4 year Forward Estimates period.  The funding for this programme (A$104bn) will be supplemented by the Defence Strategic Reform Programme, which envisages savings of A$20bn over the next 10 years.

During a visit to Japan in June 2008 PM Rudd announced the formation of an International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament to be co-chaired by Gareth Evans and Yoriko Kawaguchi (former Foreign Ministers of Australia and Japan respectively). This will provide reports both before and after the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in 2010.
In June 2008 PM Rudd proposed the creation of an Asia Pacific Community by 2020 as a means of strengthening political, economic and security cooperation over the long term. Senior Australian diplomat Richard Woolcott has been appointed to lead regional consultations on this proposal.

Climate change

Kevin Rudd’s first act as Prime Minister was to ratify the Kyoto Protocol at the UNFCCC Bali meeting in December 2007. As part of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme White Paper, published at the end of 2008, Rudd has committed to the introduction of a domestic cap-and-trade scheme by 2010. Rudd has reaffirmed his commitment to a 5% cut in emissions by 2020 (or 25% conditional on a global deal to stabilise CO2-equivalent at 450ppm by 2050). Australia is an active participant in global climate change negotiations, including through its membership of the Major Emitters Forum (MEF). In June 2008, the governments of Indonesia and Australia agreed to establish a framework for long-term cooperation on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation under the Indonesia-Australia Forest Carbon Partnership.  July 2009 saw the formal launch of another Rudd initiative, the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute (GCCSI).

Science and Innovation

Australia has a strong S&I community. With only 0.3% of the world’s population it accounts for 2.9% of the world’s scientific publications and 2.5% of the global medical research. With one third of all Australian scientific publications having at least one overseas co-author, Australia can be classed as very outward looking. The USA is Australia’s largest scientific partner but it also has strong scientific relationships with China and India.

Traditionally Australia’s research strengths have been in the areas of science best complementing its natural resources and geographical endowments, for example: engineering/technology sciences, agricultural and environmental sciences and the biological and earth sciences.  However Australia also has a solid presence in emerging fields such as photonics and biotechnology.

International Organisations

Australia has always been committed to the UN and other multilateral organisations and is currently seeking election to the United Nations Security Council in 2012 for the term 2013-14. In 2004, Australia chaired the UN Commission on Human Rights. It is a strong supporter of the Commonwealth, which it chaired from 2001 to December 2003.

Australia's relations with the UK

The UK and Australia have a close and long-standing relationship, which continues to flourish. Political, defence and intelligence relationships are excellent, while in the fields of law, education, medicine, and science & innovation the two countries share know-how and similar institutions.

In April 2008 Kevin Rudd made his first visit to the UK as Prime Minister. The visit culminated in the release of a joint UK-Australia Statement entitled ‘Progressive Plan of Action on Common Interests: Climate Change, Trade, Development and Global Institutions’. In November 2008  the UK hosted the second Australia-UK Ministerial Dialogue (AUKMIN) comprising Foreign and Defence ministers from both countries. In April 2009 PM Rudd visited the UK for the G20 Summit. In a bilateral programme with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown they released a joint statement on Strengthening the Strategic Partnership between the United Kingdom and Australia.

Bilateral ties are exemplified by double taxation agreements and mutual access to health services. There is a long tradition of co-operation on international affairs. In 2001, Australia celebrated its Centenary of Federation. To mark the Centenary, the UK made a substantial contribution to an Australian-British project to build a monument at Magna Carta Place in Canberra as a tribute to our shared history and Britain's legacy of parliamentary democracy. In March 2006 the second UK-Australia Leadership Forum was held in Canberra to coincide with Prime Minister Blair's visit to Australia. The Dialogue brought together leaders from public and private sectors from both countries to discuss current issues of relevance to the relationship.

UK Australia people facts

Passports:

Between April 2008 and April 2009, the British High Commission in Canberra issued 62,584 passports. Of these, 16,775 were first time applications. In 2007/08, there were 56,825 passports issued, of which 14,039 were first time applications. Therefore, passport issues have risen by 5,759 or 9%. Applications since 1998 are volatile, ranging from 54,335 in 2003 to 66,872 in 1998.

Visas:

More than 95% of visits to the UK from Australia are visa free. In the 12 months between April 2008 and April 2009, the British High Commission in Canberra issued 27,584 visas, a fall of 10% or 3,173 on the previous year largely because of the global economic downturn. Of these, about 13,000 were a combination of working holidaymaker and Tier 5 YMS visas, 2,800 ancestry visas, 1,300 settlement visas, 1,800 work permits, 800 students and 2,000 highly skilled visas.

Travel to the UK:

Approximately 959,000 Australians visited the UK in 2008. They spent an average of £806 and the average trip lasted 17 nights. Total spending is therefore £773 million (Source: VisitBritain). Previous year’s figures: 957,000 Australians visited the UK in 2007 according to VisitBritain, up by 1,000 on 2006. They spent £714 and 13 days in the UK.

Travel to Australia:

In 2008, approximately 608, 600 Britons visited Australia (Source: ABS) compared with 694,800 in 2007. 34,145 Britons were granted working holidaymaker visas for Australia in 2007/08, compared with 31,203 in 2006/07 (source: DIAC). The total number of Britons entering Australia for any purpose in 2007/08 and from any country was 1,317,419 (source: DIAC). In 2007/08, the FCO in Australia handled 1,128 ‘serious’ assistance cases with 76 deaths and 47 arrests (FCO).

Britons eEmigrating to Australia:

In 2007/08, 23,236 Britons emigrated to Australia. Of these, 17,853 were ‘skilled’ migrants and most of the rest were ‘family’ migrants (Source: DIAC). In addition, several thousand more (probably around 7,000 or so) applied for settlement while they were already within Australia. The figures on settlement are broadly consistent with the previous year. 13,110 Britons were ‘457’ temporary skilled migrants in 2007-08, making the UK the largest source of 457 visa holders.

UK Population in Australia:

The number of British-born people in Australia rose slightly between 2001 and 2006 to 1.04m (Source: Australian Census 2006). Of these, 245,000 receive British State pensions (DWP).

Child Migrants

Child Migrants were British children in care who were sent, under government approved schemes, to certain Commonwealth countries (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Rhodesia - now Zimbabwe). These schemes can be traced as far back as 300 years ago and continued until the 1960s. A House of Commons Health Select Committee visited Australia in June 1998 in connection with its inquiry into the welfare of former child migrants. The Committee's report, in July 1998, detailed the stories of many child migrants who had endured physical and sexual abuse, systematic punishment, and separation from siblings. The British Government responded in December 1998, offering increased funding to the Child Migrants Trust to enable child migrants to visit relatives in the UK. The Government set up a database containing details of child migrants and a website. The Child Migrants Trust has now completed this work. In June 2000 the Australian Senate Community Affairs Reference Committee agreed to hold an inquiry into the child migration scheme. The Committee published a report on 30 August, entitled 'Lost Innocents: righting the Record', which contained 33 recommendations - some for the British Government. The Australian Government responded in 2002 by announcing a package of measures worth A$3.7 million (about £1.3million) to provide practical support and assistance to former child migrants to Australia.

Frozen Pensions

The UK pays about 800,000 pensions overseas. In those countries where no bilateral agreement exists to up-rate pensions, including Australia, they are frozen at the time of immigration: 205,000 UK pensioners live in Australia. Of these, 70% qualify for an Australian aged pension, either through residency in Australia, or under the former bilateral social security agreement. In those cases the Australian government pays the difference between the UK frozen rate pension and the Australian age pension. Owing to the high cost of this measure, Australia subsequently abrogated the Bilateral Social Security Agreement in 2001. Existing British pensioners in Australia are not affected; but future British pensioners emigrating to Australia will have to complete the standard 10 years residence before
qualifying for an Australian pension. Australian pensioners in the UK will be similarly affected. The abrogation also affects entitlements for those travelling between the two countries to welfare payments such as unemployment and invalidity benefits.

Defence

The relationship between our respective Armed Forces is stronger than ever, particularly as a result of recent and ongoing deployment operations together. Following the drawdown of ADF personnel from Iraq, both countries remain strongly committed to operations in Afghanistan, where the ADF contribution has increased from 1,090 to 1,550.  There is also a significant personnel exchange programme backed up by numerous mutual training and educational opportunities that continue to be reviewed and expanded upon. The UK and Australia are both members of the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA – UK, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and New Zealand) and the America, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand (ABCA) Interoperability Programme and routinely exercise together under one of these two agreements. Australia continues to be an important market for UK defence exports.

2008 and 2009 Ministerial Visits

Australian Ministerial Visits to the UK

 

  • Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan - April 2009 for the G20
  • Joel Fitzgibbon, the Australian Defence Minister, and Stephen Smith, the Australian Foreign Minister -  November 2008Anthony Albanese, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and Leader of the House - July 2008
  • Anthony Albanese, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and Leader of the House - July 2008
  • Julia Gillard, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Employment & Workplace Relations and Social Inclusion - June 2008
  • Wayne Swan, Treasurer - June 2008
  • Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - April 2008
  • Peter Garrett, Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts visited the UK in April 2008

British Ministerial Visits to Australia:

  • Chris Bryant, Foreign Office Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, August 2009
  • Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, ~ Foreign Secretary’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan - in April 2009
  • Baroness Scotland, Attorney General - February 2009
    Baroness Ashton, Leader of the House of Lords, visited Australia in August 2008
  • Des Brown MP, Defence Secretary, visited Australia in May 2008
  • Meg Munn MP, Parliamentary Under secretary of State, visited Australia in May 2008
  • Lord Jones, Minister for trade and Investment, visited Australia in April 2008

Country information

Pick Another Country :

Share this with: