The 7th Australia-China High Level Dialogue took place in Beijing on 7 September 2023
Australia and Indonesia collaborate on skills development
Guidelines help Australian businesses comply on responsible business conduct
Applications open for the Innovation and Early Careers Skills Exchange Pilot
OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct
Indonesia is one of Australia’s closest neighbours. Deepening people-to- people links between our two countries is central to our economic relationship. Deepening our economic ties with Indonesia is a priority for Australia. Indonesia’s young and growing labour force, together with government policy and the endowment of natural resources, underpins the country’s strong economic performance. Australia and Indonesia will have greater opportunities to collaborate on skills development with the signing of an expanded Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Indonesia-Australia Skills Development Exchange Pilot by Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Ms Penny Williams, and the Secretary General of the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower, Mr Khairul Anwar. The pilot, a mobility program under the Indonesia- Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, gives eligible businesses and employees the opportunity to develop their workplace skills, and will strengthen economic links between our two countries. Under the expanded MoU, 1,500 placements are available in each direction to 2028, allowing Australians and Indonesians to develop their professional and intercultural skills through exchanges of up to 12 months in the other country. The sectors eligible under the pilot have been expanded to include agri-businesses, creative sectors, tourism and travel, and the green economy. Placements in the finance, insurance, mining engineering, information media, and telecommunications sectors will remain available. Through the pilot’s expansion, more Australian professionals and businesses will be able to build their cultural understanding of Indonesia and increase their commercial advantage in an increasingly important market. Including the green economy will enable deeper partnerships in the critical minerals and clean energy sectors, supporting both countries through the transition to net zero. More information about the program, including eligibility and how to apply, can be found at dfat.gov.au/IACEPA
The Dialogue brought together leaders from diverse stakeholder groups in both countries to discuss trade and investment, people-to-people links, bilateral relations, and regional and international security.
The Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement is creating a range of new opportunities for professionals from the UK to live and work in Australia. The Innovation and Early Careers Skills Exchange Pilot (IECSEP) is a key mobility initiative that will strengthen business ties through the movement of UK professionals to Australia. IECSEP provides two new streamlined visa pathways for eligible UK citizens to build international skills and networks while living and working in Australia. Under the Early Careers stream, tertiary-qualified applicants aged 21 to 45 can work for an Australian employer for up to one year. This is a great opportunity for Australian businesses to access UK professionals, through graduate rotations, intra-corporate transfers, and secondment opportunities. Under the Innovation stream, highly experienced and skilled UK citizens with demonstrated contributions to innovation can live and work in Australia for up to three years. This pathway has no age limitation and provides a longer timeframe for skilled innovators to deliver projects and develop commercial opportunities for their Australian employers. There are no requirements for businesses to apply for sponsorship under IECSEP, and labour market testing is not required. Applicants need to provide evidence of a job opportunity in Australia and satisfy other eligibility criteria.
In June 2023 the OECD released updated Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct. The OECD Guidelines are internationally agreed responsible business conduct standards and a valuable resource for businesses to use to enhance their contributions to sustainable development and address adverse impacts associated with business activities on people, planet, and society. They cover all key areas of business responsibility, including human rights, labour rights, environment, bribery, consumer interests, disclosure, science and technology, competition, and taxation. The 2023 edition of the guidelines provides updated recommendations for responsible business conduct across key areas such as climate change, biodiversity, technology, business integrity and supply chain due diligence. The guidelines, which are fully aligned with the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights, were first introduced in 1976 and last updated in 2011. The update of the guidelines was agreed by the 51 adherent countries, including both OECD members and non-members, accounting for two-thirds of global trade and investment. The Australian Government expects multinational enterprises to comply with the guidelines. The Australian National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct (AusNCP) has a range of resources on its website to assist companies to understand and meet these responsible business conduct standards. Instances of alleged non-compliance with the guidelines can be subject to a complaint to the AusNCP. See ausncp.gov.au for further information
It was co-hosted by DFAT’s National Foundation for Australia-China Relations and the Chinese People’s Institute for Foreign Affairs. Established in 2014, the Dialogue has contributed to Australia’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China. This year’s Dialogue was the first since 2020. Australia’s delegation was led by the Hon Dr Craig Emerson, former Minister for Trade, and comprised senior industry representatives from industry, government, academia, media and the arts. DFAT Secretary Jan Adams, Ambassador Graham Fletcher, Foundation CEO Peter Cai and Ambassador for Climate Change Kristin Tilley participated, as did former Minister for Foreign Affairs and ANU Chancellor, the Hon Julie Bishop. After the Dialogue, Australia’s delegation met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in the Great Hall of the People. The Dialogue was a valuable opportunity to exchange perspectives across the breath of our bilateral ties, and represented another important step towards stabilising the Australia-China relationship.
Applications are open. Want to know more? Register your interest with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at dfat.gov.au/aukfta
Above: The Hon Dr Craig Emerson, former Minister for Trade and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
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business envoy
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
business envoy
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