Australia (Commonwealth of)

History of Relations  || Diplomatic Representation || Travel Info || Health Requirements || Climate Info  || Currency Info || Trade Statistics || Visits and Meetings  || Agreements || Interest Groups/ Organisations

History of Relations

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.

After the inauguration of the first democratically elected Government of South Africa in May 1994, relations were normalised and excellent relations are currently enjoyed.

For more on Australian political history and issues go to the National Library of Australia

Diplomatic Representation

South African Representation in Australia

H E Mr M C J Van Schalkwyk
High Commissioner Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

South African High Commission

Australian Representation in South Africa

H E Ms G Kamath
High Commissioner Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (Designate)

Australian High Commission

Travel Info

Visa Requirements for South Africans

For more information contact the Australian High Commission in Pretoria.

Health Requirements

If a visitor, during the six days before arriving in Australia, has visited a country declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to be infected with yellow fever, a yellow fever vaccination certificate will be required.

For further information go to Travelers' Health.

Strict quarantine is applied to prevent the entry into Australia of exotic pests, diseases and weed seeds that could affect plant, animal and human health and the environment. Fines of more than A$100 can be issued on the spot if visitors do not declare items of quarantine concern. For more detailed information about bringing in food, animals and plants or their derivatives, see the AQIS (Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service) website.

Climate Info

There are generally no great extremes of climate but it is varied because of the size of the continent. The summer temperature range is from 23-26 degrees C north of the tropic of Capricorn to 38 degrees C in the arid plateaus and deserts of the interior. The southern areas are more temperate although subject to wide variations - high rainfall, extreme heat and irregular flooding and drought. Australia is considered to be one of the driest continents on earth.

For further information on Australia's topography and climate, go to AUSLIG - Australia's National Mapping Agency.

For up-to-date weather information go to CNN.com - Weather or Weather Underground

Currency Info

The monetary unit is the Australian Dollar consisting of 100 cents. The coins are: 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2.

Notes are: $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.

For current exchange rates click here.

State and Official Visits / Bilateral Meetings

No Information

Bilateral Agreements

Trade Info

South African products and commodities exported to Australia are concentrated in the following sectors: vehicles, base metals and articles of base metal, chemical products, woodpulp, machinery and mechanical appliances, minerals and animal products.

South African imports of Australian products and commodities are mostly from the following sectors: chemical products, base metals and articles of metal machinery and mechanical appliances, mineral products, vegetable products and leather.

For current information on trade statistics between South Africa and Australia, visit the website of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition of South Africa.

Interest Groups and Information

SOUTH AFRICAN FRIENDSHIP GROUPS/CLUBS IN AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIA/SOUTH AFRICA PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP GROUP

Chair: The Hon Bruce Baird, MP
Parliament House, Canberra
Tel: +61 2 6277 7111

NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION

President: The Hon Dr Meredith Burgmann
Legislative Council
Parliament House, Macquarie Street, SYDNEY, NWS 2000
Tel: +61 2 9230 2300, Mobile: +61 418 240 763
Fax: +61 2 9320 3316,

SYDNEY-SOUTH AFRICA FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION

Ms Jane Harris / Mr David Thomas
Tel: +61 2 9516 3828, Fax: +61 2 9810 2584

SOUTH AFRICAN FRIENDSHIP GROUP (Sydney)

Mr Lloyd Martin & Mrs Doris Martin
Tel: +61 2 9791 0900, Fax: +61 2 9791 0917 / 9608 0415

SOUTH AFRICAN AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATION

4 Radovic Court
Cranbourne, Melbourne 3977
Secretary: Jeanet Wentzel
Tel: +61 3 5996 9474

SOUTH AFRICAN CULTURAL ASSOCIATION

Dr J Sadhai
C/- Scott Street Medical Centre
33 Scott Street, MELTON VIC 3337
Tel: +61 3 9743 1970, Fax: +61 3 9743 4910

AUSTRALIA SOUTH AFRICA BUSINESS COUNCIL (ASABC)

ASABC National Secretariat

National Chairman: Clive Cooke
Tel: +61 7 3369 3900, Fax: +61 7 3367 2862
E-mail: cacooke@protea.net.au

NEW SOUTH WALES Secretariat

Secretary: Andrea Kroser
P O Box R867
Royal Sydney Exchange
Sydney, NSW 1225, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9233 2133, Fax: +61 2 9233 2155
E-mail: asabc@matra.com.au

QUEENSLAND Secretariat

Secretary: Greg Young
MacGillivrays Solicitors
GPO Box 1236, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
Tel: +61 7 3220 0496, Fax: +61 7 3221 0469
E-mail: asabc@webexpress.net.au

SOUTH AUSTRALIA Secretariat

Secretary: Graham Sutton
198 Greenhil Road, Eastwood, SA 5063, Australia
Tel: +61 8 8406 1662, Fax: +61 8 8221 5543
E-mail: sutton.graham@saugov.sa.gov.au

VICTORIA Secretariat

Secretary: John Larcombe
Livel 10, 459 Little Collin Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Tel: +61 3 9642 1021, Tel: +61 3 9642 8182
E-mail: mcbn@ocean.com.au

WESTERN AUSTRALIA Secretariat

Secretary: Anton Trichardt
Mallesons Stephen Trichardt
P O Box 4019, Wembley, WA 6014, Australia
Tel: +61 8 9269 7000, Fax: +61 8 9269 7999
E-mail: busco@wantree.com.au

TASMANIA

Secretary: Michael Turner
SVP Industries
Main Road, George Town, Tasmania, 7253, Australia
Tel: +61 3 6382 1844, Fax: +61 3 6382 3011
E-mail: svpind@tassie.net.au

ACT

Secretary: Andrew Goodlace

INTEC Australia

Ground Floor, 55 Blackall Street, Barton, ACT 2600, Australia
Tel: +61 2 6273 7333, Fax: +61 2 6273 7300
E-mail: andrew.goodlace@intec.co.za

NORTHERN TERRITORY: ASABC

Secretary: Chris Delaney
Mobile: +61 (0)411 753 239, E-mail: kim.int@octa4.net.au