South Africa |
Australia |
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.
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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.[1]
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." [2]
After the inauguration of the first democratically elected Government of South Africa in May 1994, relations were normalised.[1]
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.[3]
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.[4]
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.[5]
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.[5]
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 iron and motor vehicle parts.[6]
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.[7]
The merger of the Australian BHP and South African Billiton in 2001 created BHP Billiton, the largest mining company in the world.[7]
Australia's exports to South Africa have grown at an average rate of 17% per year since the end of apartheid.[8]
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.[2]
Australia and South Africa have a strong sporting rivalry particularly in rugby union and cricket.[7][9][10][11] Through the annual Tri Nations (rugby union) competition, Australia and South Africa compete for the Mandela Challenge Plate.
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