Launch of Emissaries of Trade: A History of the Australian Trade Commissioner Service

Introduction

It is a great pleasure to be here this evening to officially launch Emissaries of Trade: A History of the Australian Trade Commissioner Service.

Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge:

Mr Peter O’Byrne, CEO of Austrade
Mr Charles Jamieson, the Victorian Government’s Special Trade Envoy to the Middle East; former Managing Director of Austrade, and; the initiator of the project to produce this history
Mr Ian Wilcock, State Director for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
and, of course, Professor Boris Schedvin, author of Emissaries of Trade.

It is also a great pleasure to have the opportunity to meet a range of former Trade Commissioners who have taken the time to attend the launch this evening.

I understand that a number of you were interviewed by Professor Schedvin as part of his research, and have therefore had a personal involvement in bringing this project to fruition.

Emissaries of Trade

The project to produce Emissaries of Trade was initiated by Mr Charles Jamieson in 2001. As described by Professor Schedvin in his preface to the book, Mr Jamieson was concerned that few contemporary trade commissioners knew much about the organisation’s history.

The book has certainly filled this gap. Emissaries of Trade traces this history from pre-federation through to the formation of Austrade, brought about by Minister for Trade John Dawkins, in 1986.

While it is an economic history, it also a history of dedicated individuals, and their efforts and achievements for Australia.

As Peter O’Byrne says in his afterword to the text:

‘There is a sense of adventure in the way Australia’s trade commissioners sought out new markets and opportunities for the nation’s exports. To engage in this sometimes hazardous pursuit they were people of great character with flair, initiative and dynamism. The difficulties they faced were offset by the satisfaction that was derived by these men and women from promoting our nation’s economic interests’.

Over the long and successful history of the Trade Commissioner Service, many, many Australian businesses have taken advantage of the assistance of these men and women to compete for and win opportunities in the global economy. And the Australian economy, and the Australian community, has been much richer – both economically and in terms of our connection with the world, as a result.

The nature of world trade has changed over the life of the Trade Commissioner Service –

with reductions in trade barriers
enormous advances in technology and communications and
the increased movement of ideas and people across borders.

Now, many Australian businesses are not just exporters to one country or one region, but global players involved in foreign direct investment, joint ventures, strategic alliances and global supply chains.

And the Government is providing these businesses with assistance to succeed in this international market place, with Trade Commissioners

providing advice on markets,
helping identify strategic partners and
accessing decision makers in politics, business and government.

As they did throughout the history of the Service, Trade Commissioners still have an important role to play in our nation’s international business success.

As Professor Schedvin writes, the passage of the Trade Commissioners Act in 1933 reflected a shift in Australia’s trade policy towards a more proactive approach – an approach which continues through to today, and which the current Government is seeking to strengthen.

The Government has extended Austrade’s mandate to include two-way investment.
We are undertaking a comprehensive review of Export Policies and Programs to ensure that we provide the best possible environment for Australian international business success,
and we are pursuing greater trade access at all levels.

On the issue of trade access, it is obviously very disappointing that the Doha talks have ended in impasse. The successful conclusion of the round would have brought tangible benefits to Australia and the world economy. It is a setback for global trade and for development.

But we will not be stopping our efforts - we will continue to fight for comprehensive reductions in trade barriers, at the border and behind the border. FTAs such as the Chile FTA signed just last weekare part of that process, as are regional and multi-lateral efforts. You can be confident that the Government will continue to work to remove trade barriers through all mechanisms available.

Conclusion

It is particularly appropriate that this launch is here in Victoria – which was the first Australian state to appoint a commercial representative overseas – some 114 years ago.

It is also timely that the history is available this year, the 75^th anniversary of the passage of the Trade Commissioners Act, in 1933.

By coincidence, the book contains a picture of then Minister for Overseas Trade Frank Crean at celebrations of the 50^th anniversary of the Trade Commissioner Service, as well as a foreword from his son, the current Trade Minister Simon Crean.

In launching Emissaries of Trade, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of those who have worked on the project.

In addition to the efforts of Professor Schedvin, the book is the result of a great deal of work by a range of people.

The Historical Publications and Information Section of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade undertook publication on behalf of Austrade
In particular Dr Moreen Dee contributed a great deal to the project.
Former Trade Commissioner Dick Wilson, who is here this evening, was also important in bringing the project to fruition.

I would now like to introduce the author of Emissaries of Trade, Professor Schedvin, who has kindly agreed to say a few words this evening. Professor Schedvin is an eminent Australian economic historian.

He has held posts as Professor of Economic History and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Melbourne. Boris is the author of a number of works over a period of almost forty years, including:

Australia and the Great Depression
War Economy, 1942-1945
Shaping Science and Industry, and
In Reserve: Central Banking in Australia 1945-1975.

Please join me in welcoming Professor Boris Schedvin, and in congratulating him on the launch of Emissaries of Trade.

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