ANNUAL REPORT 2018–19 Austrade at a glance WHO ARE WE? OUR STAFF We are the Australian Trade and Investment Commission—or Austrade Austrade—and we’re responsible for promoting Australian trade, staff at investment and education to the world. We help Australian 1,073 30 June 2019, businesses grow by linking them to global export opportunities; 65 per cent of whom were we attract international investment to help Australia reach its employed in client-focused economic potential; we help startups innovate and go global and operations in Australia and we promote Australia’s leading-edge education services to the overseas. Staff turnover was world to help drive growth in this sector. Our tourism policy and 11.9 per cent and the gender programs also help to build a thriving tourism industry. balance was 58 per cent female and 42 per cent male. We also help Australian citizens by providing consular and passport services in designated overseas locations. WHERE WE WORK locations at OUR MISSION 117 30 June 2019, Our mission is to promote Australian exports and international including 79 overseas locations education, strengthen Australia’s tourism sector, and attract in 48 markets, with 14 of investment into Australia. We do this by providing quality advice those locations also providing and services to exporters, education institutions and investors, consular services on behalf including generating market information and insights, promoting of the Australian Government. Australian capabilities, making connections through an extensive Within Australia, Austrade had global network of contacts, leveraging the ‘badge of government’ 10 offices, complemented by a offshore, and working collaboratively with partner organisations. further 28 TradeStart offices. See the network map on pages 6–7. EXTENDING OUR REACH Austrade works with other agencies and organisations onshore and offshore to extend our reach into the business community and leverage external resources, knowledge and skills, including agencies within the Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio and across the Australian Government, state and territory governments, industry associations, business councils, and chambers of commerce. OUR PURPOSE To deliver quality trade and investment services to businesses to grow Australia’s prosperity. The services we provide reflect the changing needs of our clients. These services include generating and providing market information and insights; promoting Australian capability; and facilitating connections through our extensive global network. Austrade also helps Australian citizens overseas by providing consular and passport services in designated locations. OUR VALUES Generosity of spirit Collaboration By working with people from different Inclusion is a bridge—a way to connect backgrounds, different experiences diverse perspectives. Understanding, and working styles, we learn and get valuing and respecting differences that another view. Diverse views make for clients, communities and colleagues better decisions, helping one another present will only enable us to better grow and thrive. connect. Innovation Transparency Harnessing inclusion and diversity We will promote greater inclusion to drive innovation will create a culture by increasing transparency about our that enables people to contribute diversity policies, targets and progress. something unique. This will help us to drive the agency forward and position us to better adapt to the world of work that is forever changing. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY COVER ARTWORK AND TRADITIONAL OWNERS The Australian Trade and Investment Commission Artist: Bradley Kickett shows respect by acknowledging the traditional Title: Trade Grounds custodians of country throughout Australia and Please refer to page 133 their continuing connections to land, waters and for the story of Trade Grounds. communities. We pay our respect to their cultures and elders past, present and future. 27 September 2019 Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Dear Minister It is my pleasure to present to you the annual report of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) for the financial year 2018–19. The report has been prepared pursuant to section 46 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 and section 92 of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission Act 1985, and reflects the matters Austrade dealt with and the legislation it administered in pursuing its purpose for the year to 30 June 2019. I certify I am satisfied Austrade has, in accordance with section 10 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014: › prepared appropriate fraud risk assessments and a fraud control plan for 2018–19 › put in place appropriate fraud prevention, detection, investigation and reporting mechanisms that meet the specific needs of Austrade › taken all reasonable measures to appropriately deal with fraud relating to Austrade. In presenting this annual report, I would like to acknowledge the contribution made throughout the year by my colleagues in Austrade. Yours sincerely Dr Stephanie Fahey Chief Executive Officer ii Australian Trade and Investment Commission Annual Report 2018–19 Australian Trade and Investment Commission Annual Report 2018–19 Contents Austrade at a glance inside front cover Part 3 Letter of transmittal ii Management and accountability 117 Highlights from 2018–19 iv Corporate governance 118 Risk management 123 Part 1 Corporate and operational planning 125 Agency overview 1 Legislative framework and external scrutiny 128 About Austrade 2 Management of human resources 130 A brief history of Austrade 4 Financial management and business Austrade’s network 6 assurance 138 Organisational structure 8 Managing knowledge and information 142 Chief Executive Officer’s review 9 Financial review 12 Part 4 Financial statements 145 Part 2 Independent auditor’s report 146 Report on performance 15 Certification of financial statements 148 Reporting framework 16 Financial statements 149 Annual performance statements 19 Notes to and forming part of the financial Outcome 1 35 statements 161 Trade and investment environment 36 Structure and approach 40 Part 5 Austrade’s international network 40 Appendixes 187 Global sectors 56 A Austrade and TradeStart locations in Strengthening Australia’s tourism industry 72 Australia, and TradeStart partners 188 How we work with clients 75 B Austrade’s Service Charter 190 Export Market Development Grants scheme 94 C Work health and safety 192 Working with partners 103 D Financial and staffing resources 194 Policy advocacy and influencing 108 E Remuneration and staffing 197 Outcome 2 114 F Ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance 214 Consular and passport services 115 G Advertising and market research 216 H List of requirements 219 List of figures and tables 223 Abbreviations and acronyms 225 Index 226 Auditors and acknowledgements 236 Austrade locations 237 Contents iii Highlights from 2018–19 Continued to deliver value Progressed the development Strengthened Australia’s to Australian businesses of a stronger nation brand tourism sector Over 350 91% business and $122.1b of all clients surveyed say they industry leaders in overnight visitor expenditure were satisfied with Austrade’s from a range of industries, and in the 12 months to June 2019, services, and 78 per cent say across all states and territories up 11 per cent on the previous they achieved a commercial and online, provided insights year. This is the first year it has outcome within 12 months of and input into the development reached the $115 billion target set working with Austrade (see of Australia’s nation brand (see under the Tourism 2020 strategy page 92). pages 84–5). (see page 109). Assisted Australian Won productive foreign Promoted Australia’s free businesses through the direct investment trade agreements Export Market Development 1,517 participants Grants (EMDG) scheme $8b attended 23 free in investment value, resulting trade agreement seminars across from 185 investment outcomes, 3,928 Australia, continuing to EMDG recipients received increased the stock of highlight opportunities across reimbursements worth productive foreign direct Australia’s 11 existing free $131.4 million in 2018–19 (see investment in Australia, and trade agreements, as well page 94). helped create and safeguard as anticipated benefits from Australian jobs (see page 25). upcoming agreements (see page 88). Strengthened client service Provided consular and Contributed to policy delivery passport services development Austrade Austrade provided its commenced a 98.7 % commercial insights on major client service of the 16,599 passport a range of policy issues, redesign. The first new service applications received at including visa settings, arising from the redesign came Austrade consular offices during supporting services exporters, online in April 2019—a new tool 2018–19 were scanned within aviation access and non-tariff to support digital product and 24 hours, within the 3 per cent barriers (see pages 108–13). services exporters (see page 76). tolerance benchmark agreed with the Australian Passport Office (see page 115). iv Australian Trade and Investment Commission Annual Report 2018–19 PART 1 Agency overview About Austrade 2 A brief history of Austrade 4 Austrade’s network 6 Organisational structure 8 Chief Executive Officer’s review 9 Financial review 12 Agency overview 1 About Austrade Purpose statement Legislation