AUSTRALIAN TRADE AND INVESTMENT COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17 Austrade at a glance Who are we? Our staff The Australian Trade and Investment Commission Austrade staff at (Austrade) contributes to Australia’s economic 1,095 30 June 2017, prosperity by helping Australian businesses, 70 per cent of whom were education institutions, tourism operators and governments employed in client-focused as they: operations in Australia and › develop international markets overseas. Staff turnover was › promote international education 11.3 per cent and the gender › win productive foreign direct investment balance was 56 per cent female › strengthen Australia’s tourism industry. and 44 per cent male. For detailed Austrade also helps Australian citizens by providing consular staffing information, see page 145. and passport services in designated overseas locations. Our mission Where we work To promote Australian exports and international locations at 30 June 2017, education, strengthen Australia’s tourism 121 including 83 overseas sector, and attract investment into Australia locations in 49 markets, with by generating market information and insights, promoting 15 of those locations also providing Australian capabilities, making connections through an consular services on behalf of the extensive global network of contacts, leveraging the ‘badge Australian Government. Within Australia, of government’ offshore, working collaboratively with partner Austrade had 10 offices, complemented organisations, and providing quality advice and services to by a further 28 TradeStart offices. exporters, education institutions and investors. See the network map on pages 6–7. Extending our reach Our service commitment Austrade works with other agencies and Each year, Austrade organisations onshore and offshore to extend our undertakes satisfaction reach into the business community and leverage surveys to assess external resources, knowledge and skills, including agencies service delivery and identify areas for within the Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio and across the improvement in its services to Australian Australian Government, state and territory governments, organisations. The surveys are conducted industry associations, business councils, and chambers of independently and results are available commerce. throughout the year. Cover: Abstract image depicting businesspeople walking on a city street (motion blurred). The graphic overlay represents Austrade’s global network, and the agency’s focus on connectivity, collaboration and engagement. Achieving our purposes Austrade’s purposes are listed below, along with some examples of how we achieved them in 2016–17. How we measure our performance is explained in the reporting framework on pages 16–18, with more detailed performance results summarised in Part 2 of this report, starting on page 19. 1 Develop international markets 11,126 general and tailored services Established three Landing Pads in provided to 5,082 Australian organisations, global innovation hotspots overseas, helping them access opportunities identified delivering on the Government’s by Austrade and others (see page 55). National Innovation and Science Agenda, and taking the total number of Landing Pads to five (see page 88). 2 Promote international education Worked with other agencies 91% of Australian education institutions to deliver activities identified surveyed indicated they achieved some form in the sector’s long-term of commercial outcome as a result of working market development roadmap, Australian with Austrade, above the forecast 70 per cent International Education 2025 (see page 94). (see pages 25 and 92). 3 Win productive foreign direct investment Contributed to almost $4.8b in recorded Contributed to the development investment value resulting from 92 of northern Australia, including investment outcomes, helping to increase through the delivery of over $1 million foreign direct investment in Australia in grants through the Australian Tropical (see page 104). Medicine Commercialisation grants program (see page 111). 4 Strengthen Australia’s tourism industry Increased the supply of aviation $103.2b in overnight visitor expenditure, capacity between Australia and up 6.6 per cent, and continuing to track key tourism markets, contributing above the Tourism 2020 lower-bound target to the successful negotiation of several new of $115 billion (see page 115). air service arrangements, which removed capacity restrictions for designated airlines operating services to Australia (see page 117). 5 Help Australians with consular and passport services 99% of the 16,568 passport applications Provided high-quality and responsive received were processed within the required consular support to 822 Australians timeframe (see page 129). in difficulty overseas (see page 129). Letter of transmittal 21 September 2017 The Hon Steven Ciobo MP 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 2016–17. 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 purposes for the year to 30 June 2017. 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 2016–17 › 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 of my predecessor, Bruce Gosper, who was CEO of Austrade until January 2017, and 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 2016–17 Australian Trade and Investment Commission Annual Report 2016–17 Contents Austrade at a glance inside front cover Part 3 Letter of transmittal ii Management and accountability 131 Highlights from 2016–17 iv Corporate governance 132 Part 1 Risk management 139 Agency overview 1 Corporate and operational planning 142 About Austrade 2 Legislative framework and external scrutiny 143 A brief history of Austrade 4 Management of human resources 145 Organisational structure 5 Financial management and business assurance 160 Austrade’s network 6 Managing knowledge and information 164 Chief Executive Officer’s review 8 Chief Finance Officer’s review 12 Part 4 Financial statements 169 Part 2 Report on performance 15 Independent auditor’s report 170 Certification of financial statements 172 Reporting framework 16 Notes to and forming part of the financial Australian Trade and Investment Commission statements 185 annual performance statement 19 Purpose 1: Develop international markets 35 Part 5 Purpose 2: Promote international Appendixes 209 education 92 A Austrade and TradeStart locations in Australia, and TradeStart partners 210 Purpose 3: Win productive foreign direct Austrade’s Service Charter 212 investment 100 B C Work health and safety 214 Purpose 4: Strengthen Australia’s tourism Financial and staffing resources 216 industry 113 D E Ecologically sustainable development Purpose 5: Help Australians with consular and environmental performance 219 and passport services 127 F Advertising and market research 222 G List of requirements 228 List of figures and tables 232 Abbreviations and acronyms 235 Index 237 Auditors and acknowledgements 248 Austrade locations 249 Contents iii Highlights from 2016–17 Continued to deliver value Hosted major minister-led Delivered Landing Pads in to Australian businesses business missions global innovation hotspots 196 delegates 89% attended seven 100% of all clients surveyed say minister-led of Landing Pad participants they were satisfied with business missions, including surveyed were satisfied with the Austrade’s services, and Indonesia Australia Business Landing Pads program, which is 87 per cent say they achieved Week, held in March 2017 being delivered by Austrade as a commercial outcome within (see page 70). part of the National Innovation 12 months of working with and Science Agenda Austrade (see page 60). (see page 88). Supported the international education and training sector Promoted Australia’s free Continued to develop trade agreements northern Australia 810 participants Over $1 million 2,039 general and tailored services attended 21 North awarded to 12 delivered to Australian Asia free trade projects under the education and training agreement seminars across Australian Tropical Medicine providers (see page 96), Australia (see page 85). Commercialisation grants and Australian International program (see page 111). Education 2025 activities delivered across the sector Strengthened Australia’s (see page 94). tourism sector Assisted Australian businesses through the in total tourism expenditure Export Market Development Planned for Austrade’s future Grants scheme generated in 2016–17, up Commenced 6 per cent (see page 121), benchmarking with Austrade progressing a 3,166 and strengthening number of reforms identified grant recipients received