Australia – South Africa relations
Encyclopedia
Australia – South Africa relations are foreign relations between Australia and South Africa
. Australia has a High Commission in Pretoria
. South Africa has a High Commission in Canberra
.
When Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam
came to power in December 1972, his Government quickly acted to dismantle all vestiges of racism and to adopt a more independent stance on foreign policy. One of its first actions was to restrict the entry of racially selected sports teams and individuals and initiate an apartheid sports boycott. In 1977, Australian Foreign Minister Andrew Peacock
maintained "that it was
impossible to divorce politics from sport because the South African Government had imposed a political dogma on its sportsmen and sports associations."
After the inauguration of the first democratically elected Government of South Africa in May 1994, relations were normalised.
In 1997, the Australia-South Africa Joint Ministerial Commission was established which is chaired by Trade Ministers, the JMC is the peak forum for the discussion and strengthening of the trade and economic relationship between South Africa and Australia.
In the early 2000s, Australia's trade with South Africa had become more liberalised in trade and they also played a significant role along with India
in the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation
.
The Australian government's formal program of assistance to South Africa commenced in 1994, principally under the direction of AusAID, and has totalled about R480m since then. Currently Australia provides around $A10 million (approximately R48 million) in development assistance to South Africa each year.
and motor vehicle parts.
Australia is the sixth largest export destination for South African goods. The majority of goods exported from South Africa to Australia are finished goods. Exports of high quality motor cars — BMWs, Mercedes and VWs — head the list.
The merger of the Australian BHP
and South African Billiton in 2001 created BHP Billiton
, the largest mining company in the world.
Australia's exports to South Africa have grown at an average rate of 17% per year since the end of apartheid.
Australia and South Africa have a strong sporting rivalry particularly in rugby union
and cricket
. Through the annual Tri Nations (rugby union) competition, Australia and South Africa compete for the Mandela Challenge Plate
.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Australia has a High Commission in Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
. South Africa has a High Commission in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
.
History
South Africa and Australia established diplomatic relations in 1947 and enjoyed very close political and economic ties. As campaigns for international isolation of South Africa intensified in the 1970s and 1980s, successive Australian governments placed Australia firmly in the anti-apartheid camp, supporting UN resolutions against apartheid and implementing the oil, trade and arms embargo as well as sport boycott against South Africa.When Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
came to power in December 1972, his Government quickly acted to dismantle all vestiges of racism and to adopt a more independent stance on foreign policy. One of its first actions was to restrict the entry of racially selected sports teams and individuals and initiate an apartheid sports boycott. In 1977, Australian Foreign Minister Andrew Peacock
Andrew Peacock
Andrew Sharp Peacock AC, GCL , is a former Australian Liberal politician. He was a minister in the Gorton, McMahon and Fraser governments, and was federal leader of the Liberal Party of Australia 1983–1985 and 1989–1990...
maintained "that it was
impossible to divorce politics from sport because the South African Government had imposed a political dogma on its sportsmen and sports associations."
After the inauguration of the first democratically elected Government of South Africa in May 1994, relations were normalised.
In 1997, the Australia-South Africa Joint Ministerial Commission was established which is chaired by Trade Ministers, the JMC is the peak forum for the discussion and strengthening of the trade and economic relationship between South Africa and Australia.
In the early 2000s, Australia's trade with South Africa had become more liberalised in trade and they also played a significant role along with India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation
Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation
The Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation , initially known as the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative, is an international organization with 18 member states...
.
Australian assistance
Australia has provided formal bilateral development assistance to South Africa since 1994. Post 1994, Australian aid provided assistance to South Africa to achieve the goals set out in its Reconstruction and Development Program and its Growth, Employment and Redistribution macro-economic strategy.The Australian government's formal program of assistance to South Africa commenced in 1994, principally under the direction of AusAID, and has totalled about R480m since then. Currently Australia provides around $A10 million (approximately R48 million) in development assistance to South Africa each year.
Trade
South Africa is Australia's 21st largest merchandise trading partner and 16th most significant merchandise export market. In 2007 two-way merchandise trade was valued at A$3.88 billion. Australian exports to South Africa were A$2.53 billion (mainly medicaments, meat and civil engineering equipment) and Australian imports from South Africa were A$1.35 billion, notably passenger motor vehicles (mainly BMW Series 3 vehicles) worth A$663 million, as well as pig ironPig iron
Pig iron is the intermediate product of smelting iron ore with a high-carbon fuel such as coke, usually with limestone as a flux. Charcoal and anthracite have also been used as fuel...
and motor vehicle parts.
Australia is the sixth largest export destination for South African goods. The majority of goods exported from South Africa to Australia are finished goods. Exports of high quality motor cars — BMWs, Mercedes and VWs — head the list.
The merger of the Australian BHP
BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
and South African Billiton in 2001 created BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
, the largest mining company in the world.
Australia's exports to South Africa have grown at an average rate of 17% per year since the end of apartheid.
Sporting relations
Australia played a consistent role in the implementation of the apartheid sports boycott from 1972 to 1991, when there were no official Australian rugby or cricket tours. However, there were many unofficial tours of South Africa, such as the rebel cricket tours in 1985–86 and 1986–87.Australia and South Africa have a strong sporting rivalry particularly in rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
. Through the annual Tri Nations (rugby union) competition, Australia and South Africa compete for the Mandela Challenge Plate
Mandela Challenge Plate
The Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate is a rugby union trophy contested between Australia and South Africa. It is named after South Africa's first post-apartheid president, Nelson Mandela....
.
Notable people
- Wendy BothaWendy BothaWendy Botha is a four-time world surfing champion. She won her first title as a South African citizen in 1987, then she became an Australian citizen and won three more titles in 1989, 1991, and 1992). She also posed nude for Australian Playboy for the September issue of 1992...
Australian world surfing champion born in South Africa - Dennis JensenDennis JensenDr Dennis Jensen , Australian politician, was elected to the Australian House of Representatives at the 9 October 2004 federal election for the Division of Tangney, Western Australia, for the Liberal Party.- Education :...
Australian policitican born in South Africa - Kepler WesselsKepler WesselsKepler Christoffel Wessels is a former South African cricketer who captained South Africa after playing 24 Tests for Australia. He was the first man to have played One Day International cricket for two countries....
played cricket for both South Africa and Australia