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ADU ReVIeW

Australia and Africa have much

to foster

ommentators on African-Australian re- tant continent] needs to be reinforced in the 27.7% of annual government revenue.
Clations argue there are many benefits Australian context. We have a very strong DFAT assistant secretary, Africa branch,
to be shared between the two jurisdictions focus on Asia but Africa, as one quarter of Alison Chartres said commercial relations
across private and public sectors if the gap the world’s countries and approaching one between Australia and China – such as min-
is bridged, but the task will require more quarter of the world’s population, is in itself erals and resources – were “key”.
than an “episodic” relationship. a globally important continent.” “Commercial interests more broadly are a
At a breakfast panel discussion hosted Africa is forecast to catch up to Asia in key part of what we talk about every day in
by the Australian Institute of International terms of population growth by the end of DFAT,” she said. “There are opportunities in
Affairs (AIIA) during Africa Down Under, this century, potentially exceeding 4 billion fintech and edtech, education of course is a
Curtin University Dean, Africa, Dr David people. major Australian export. But we need to get
Mickler said opportunities between Aus- “We can start to think about some areas more understanding of Africa and the oppor-
tralia and Africa were lost to a lack of long- that Africa and Australia can collaborate, tunities.
term strategic relationships. whether it’s on the global security agenda, “There is an energy in the Government
the climate agenda to put more reinvigoration into the Australia-
or energy security,” Africa relationship. We do recognise that
Mickler said. has waned over recent years. It’s not that we
Beltz Mining di- have taken our eyes off Africa.
rector Nkandu Beltz “When we think about our national inter-
echoed Mickler’s ests in Africa, how are we trying to distil that
sentiments on com- and translate that into concrete actions?”
paring Asian rela- Panel chair, AIIA West Australian presi-
tions to Africa, using dent Brendan Augustin, offered the idea of
Zambia as a case spruiking African-Australian travel with work-
study. ing visas.
“It took 40 years “One of the great successes of Australian
for us to engage with foreign policy is our ability over many years to
China in a strate- attract many young people,” he said. “Firstly
gic and meaningful with Europe with the working holiday ar-
Panel chair Brendan Augustin (Australian Institute of International manner, it shouldn’t rangement, that was expanded to countries
Affairs) and David Mickler (Curtin University)
take that long for Af- like Japan, Korea and the US. The exchange
“One of my colleagues, Nikola Pijovic, rica because we are
who has written a history of Australian-Af- operating in there,”
rican relations, has argued that Australia’s Beltz said.
relationship with Africa is episodic, rather “Speaking from
than strategic,” Mickler said. the business side of
“We have these particular moments things, what we need
around particular interests or activities, but governments in Aus-
then that disappears and we don’t really tralia and Africa to
have a nationally strategic approach with do is create investor
how we engage with Africa.” friendly policies so it
Mickler’s comments were made shortly makes trade easier
after the Albanese Government passed its because we cannot
100-day milestone in leading the country. sit and wait for gov-
Foreign policy has been an early focus of ernments to do eve-
the Albanese Government so far, including rything. Alison Chartres (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) and
a visit to Quadrilateral Security Dialogue “Trade between Nkandu Beltz (Beltz Mining)
earlier this year. Zambia, for example,
In Africa, Minister for Defence Richard and Australia remains very little and the that comes from that is fantastic. I have seen
Marles recently visited the Commonwealth data from Department of Foreign Affairs that from working in different countries.
Heads of Government meeting in Rwanda. and Trade (DFAT) indicates that in 2012 to “I know visa processing in Australia is a
Mickler said these early signs of the Al- 2019, the merchandised trade between the challenge at this point in time, but let’s not
banese Government have indicated an im- two countries was valued at $40.4 million, be overcome by the challenge and ditch
provement for relations with Africa. ranking at 112. I think we could do better.” the concept. I don’t see why we can’t have
“We’ve heard some very positive sounds Zambia, a Commonwealth country a working holiday programme open to the
from the new Australian Government over which gained independence from Britain in whole of Africa.”
recent weeks and months, and as part of the 1960s, is one of Africa’s largest cop- By 2030, one in four college-aged people
this conference, about why Africa is impor- per miners. Its mining industry contributes in the world are expected to be African.
tant,” he said. “[Africa as a globally impor- to 77% of the country’s export value and
– Fraser Palamara

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