Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce

The Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce (AICC) is Australia’s pre-eminent international Chamber of Commerce and one of the country’s most prestigious and active national business organisations. The AICC’s national membership exceeds 1,000 leading Australian companies across a broad range of industry sectors. Fifteen of the top 25 companies in Australia are currently members or sponsors of the AICC

Graham Bradley addresses the AICC Business Luncheon

In his inaugural speech as president of the Business Council of Australia, Graham Bradley clearly marked out his plan for 2010.

Bradley spoke to more than 500 luncheon guests drawn from the cream of corporate Sydney at the city’s Shangri-La Hotel.

The business council he heads has been operational for twenty-seven years. He told the room that “Australia is emerging in relatively good shape from the Global Financial Crisis.” He praised the Rudd Government for producing “an effective stimulus package.” He said that he planned to use his term in office to make a contribution not only to our economy but also to our society stating that there was a need for “more Australians to share fully in our nation’s prosperity”.  The companies which are members of the Business Council will play a role in opening up employment opportunities for indigeonous Australians

Bradley told his audience that Australia stands on the threshhold  of a new exciting era and has an opportunity to underwrite our continued growth and prosperity for the coming decade. He said that unemployment in Australia was currently about 6% “when one in ten Americans is out of work”.

He said he believed Australia was in poll position as the new decade begins for the next economic cycle….”I am very optimistic about Australia’s prospects.” He said the lucky birthright of geograohy and resources is not enough to guarantee economic prosperity. He spoke of Australia’s population being 35 million by 2050, saying that this forecast represents “realistic and manageable growth”.

In referring to the Government’s need to get the country back into the black Bradley pointed out  that “it was not how quickly a country gets into deficit that matters but how quickly it gets out of it”. He said that the Business Council has reforms planned for the future singling out a single economy. Bradley questioned why a truck transporting goods from Melbourne to Brisbane has to deal with three separate sets of State laws and regulations.

He said that the tax system was sorely in need of “bold reforms” stating that corporate and personal taxes should be reduced as the current rates inhibit business investments. He did, however, call for an increase in GST.

He called on Australians to accept more responsibility for their own health in order to reduce the demands on the health system. Bradley called for an improvement in the quality of education. adding that a more business-lime management of our educational assets and budgets is needed.

Summing up, Bradley said that the Council has pin-pointed five areas…seamless economy, tax reform, improved infrastructure, more affordable health care and better quality education to be the priorities for 2010.

The luncheon meeting also heard from NSW Minister for Water Philip Costa, recently returned from Israel where he had visited cutting edge companies working in the water  management field. He told the meeting of joint projects currently in place and those planned for the future.

Gail Kelly, CEO of Westpac introduced Graham Bradley and Tony Burg delivered the vote of thanks.

Trade mission back from Israel

The Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a trade mission to Israel led by NSW Minister for Water & Regional Development, The Hon Phillip Costa.

The mission included 30 key influencers in policy, academia and business including Katrina Hodgkinson MP, NSW Shadow Minister for Natural Resources, Dr Ian Chessell, South Australia Chief Scientist, and Robyn McLeod, South Australian Water Security Commissioner.

Over an intensive week in Israel, the delegation met with key Israeli policy makers and business innovators, such as in desalination, water reclamation, solar and wind energy, and low carbon technologies.

One of the week’s highlights was the opening of a unique bio-filtration plant in Kfar Saba which enables run off rain water to naturally cleanse itself through a reed pool to replenish the aquifer.  This project is based on unique intellectual property developed at Monash University and supported by JNF as an important contribution to Israel’s environmental future.

Combined with hearing about the local geopolitical situation and visiting the old city of Jerusalem, Masada, the Dead Sea and Galillee, one of the delegates commented that the mission was a ‘life-changing experience’.  As various business opportunities and collaboration emerge from this mission, both countries will benefit and the longstanding bilateral relationship will be strengthened.

Australia and Israel share many common challenges relating to water security, sustainability and alternative energy and, more importantly, business opportunities for these sectors!

Full text of Gillard’s speech to the Chamber

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard addressed the Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce ahead of her visit to Israel. J-Wire publishes the text of what she said…

“It is in that spirit that I will be travelling to Israel later this month to lead the Australian Delegation at the inaugural Australia Israel Leadership Forum.

I know that some of you will be joining me at that important gathering.

I would like to express my thanks to the AICC and to its Patron, His Excellency Yuval Rotem, the Israeli Ambassador to Australia, for their help in organising and facilitating elements of my visit and for their support for this Forum.

I know from my previous visit the intensity and diversity of Israel’s people, how their situation encourages innovation, commitment and lively democratic discussion of the issues facing the country and the world.

Israel is a country with much to teach us on issues such as scientific innovation and education and with much that we can share in addressing challenges like climate change and water security.

The first Australian Israel Leadership Forum will highlight both the strength and potential of the Australia-Israel relationship. It will provide an excellent opportunity to build stronger ties between our two nations and their people.

It will involve distinguished Australians from all walks of life travelling to Israel as part of our delegation. I am pleased and proud that my parliamentary colleagues Peter Costello, Christopher Pyne, George Brandis, Mike Kelly and Mark Dreyfus will be part of the group.

Senator Mark Arbib was also due to join us, but I regret that he is now unable to attend because of the otherwise happy development that he has joined the Ministry as Minister for Employment Participation. On Mark’s behalf, I am sorry that his new responsibilities prevent him from attending.  That said, I am glad that he will be working hard on employment participation while I am out of the country! I know he is looking forward to future opportunities to engage with Israel and the Jewish community.

The Forum is part of a wide-ranging festival and celebration of culture between our countries, G’Day, Shalom Salaam.  This festival includes the world premiere of the film Tackling Peace, which documents how a team of Palestinian and Israeli players travelled to Australia last August to participate in the Aussie Rules International Cup in Melbourne. It includes a performance by the celebrated Australian classical musician David Helfgott.  And it includes a concert by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

During my visit to Israel I expect to hold meetings with senior members of the Israeli Government. I intend to reaffirm Australia’s ongoing support for Israel’s right to live in peace and security within defined borders. I will also reiterate that a just and lasting peace in the Middle East must be based on a two-state solution to the conflict.

I plan to visit Ramallah, on the West Bank and to meet leaders of the Palestinian Authority there. The Australian Government supports reform and institution-building in the Palestinian Territories, which is in the interests of Israel and the Palestinians.

Next week, before I arrive in Israel, I will be travelling to the United States to meet senior members of the Obama administration.

In recent weeks we’ve seen the efforts of a new and youthful American President to renew the world’s belief in the possibility of a more peaceful Middle East. President Obama’s Cairo speech was an important and positive intervention.

He reminded us that we share a responsibility across the world to strive for peace and for mutual respect between nations and cultures.

He said, “There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground.”

A new American leadership, a new Israeli Government and a new period of cooperation in international affairs provide us with a fresh opportunity to seek peace and shared prosperity in our time. That is an opportunity that I am sure all of us wish to take…..”

Rudd reaffirms friendship with Israel

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd reaffirmed his association with Israel at an Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce lunch in Melbourne.

At the meeting, held jointly with the General Sir John Monash Foundation, Rudd said that the meeting enabled him “to confirm again publicly before you what I have said throughout my political career…that I am a lifelong friend of the State of Israel.”

Acknowledging the presence of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch and offering sentiments to the Pratt family, Rudd went on to tell the meeting that Ahmadinejad’s remarks at the Durban II Revision Conference in Geneva this week are “unacceptable and underline the Australian Government’s decision not to attend the Conference.

On the eve of Anzac Day, Rudd paid to tribute to the Australian Jewish General who participated in the Gallopili landings, Sir John Monash. He told the meeting that Monash’s outstanding qualities…his values, his passion for education, his passion for excellence and his passion for nation building were indicative of his Jewish heritage.

The Prime Minister announced a Government commitment of $720,000 to the Foundation which will provide funds to allow four bright young Australians to study at one of the world’s leading universities for three years.