Business News

Australian export winners are also leading job creators

ekrieger@smartcompany.com.au (Tim Harcourt) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:08:57 +0000

Why always talk about exports, exports and exports? Because they mean jobs, job, jobs. Australia has one of the strongest economies in the OECD, in terms of job creation – and our commitment to trade liberalisation has been a key factor in this success.

Your form guide for export success

jthomson@smartcompany.com.au (Tim Harcourt) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:00:00 +0000

When you are punting on this year’s Melbourne Cup, have a bit of sympathy for Australia’s 44,000 exporters who have to make their big bets on international markets. Like a good punter Australian exporters have to look at the horse, the jockey, the state of the track, and of course, the odds.

Aussie Rules goes global

ekrieger@smartcompany.com.au (Tim Harcourt ) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 23:32:29 +0000

Tomorrow is the last Saturday in the season and all eyes will be on the 'G' (the Melbourne Cricket Ground, MCG, and the 'Mecca' of Aussie Rules football). Of course there will be a big crowd, of 100,000-plus to see a replay of the epic battle of 1966, when St Kilda snatched its only flag by one point over Collingwood.

A tale of two conferences

ekrieger@smartcompany.com.au (Tim Harcourt) — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 14:00:00 +0000

At Indaba in Cape Town, one of the world's largest mining conferences, I met an unusual delegate. Amidst all the mining executives, engineers and government representatives discussing the resources industry, there was Darren Beazley, an executive with the AFL's Fremantle Dockers.

ANZAC partners take the next step trade-wise

ekrieger@smartcompany.com.au (Tim Harcourt) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:00:00 +0000

I have just been in New Zealand and let's face it, we Aussies can sometimes get a bit of a hard time there unless we can demonstrate some sort of Kiwi connection.

The green and gold

ekrieger@smartcompany.com.au (Tim Harcourt) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:23:25 +0000

Imagine a country that is inward looking and rarely notices the world beyond its own borders. There's double-digit inflation and unemployment and a poor record of economic growth. Workers and their bosses are at each other's throats, the country leads the world for working days lost due to industrial disputes and productivity and how to improve it is rarely talked about.

Australian business: where the bolly hell are you?

ekrieger@smartcompany.com.au (Tim Harcourt) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0000

It really is going to be an Indian summer for Australian exporters and investors with Australia's expanded commitment to the sub-continent. The Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean has just announced an extension of Australia's diplomatic and commercial resources in India.

Your friendly neighbourhood trade agreement

ekrieger@smartcompany.com.au (Tim Harcourt) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0000

In financial circles, you hear a lot of talk about 'China and India' - or even sometimes 'Chindia' – to describe the rising economic superpowers of emerging Asia. This is particularly important in Australia, where China and India have moved up the ranks quickly, as leading export destinations for Australia.

End of the tyranny of distance?

ekrieger@smartcompany.com.au (Tim Harcourt ) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:29:31 +0000

For me, it all started with yabbies. When I first joined the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) I met a remarkable woman called Mary Nenke, from the wheat belt town of Western Australia.

My big fat Greek debt

ekrieger@smartcompany.com.au (Tim Harcourt) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 14:00:00 +0000

In early 2010, markets have been spooked by the Greek debt crisis. This is affecting central bankers and policy makers, who have just got over the stress of the global financial crisis and the impact on the world's global financial institutions.

Why exporting matters

jthomson@smartcompany.com.au (Tim Harcourt) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:16:35 +0000

This article first appeared May 19, 2009.

Why does South Australia need to export? For the same reasons as it is important for Australia to export. There are both macroeconomic reasons and microeconomic reasons.

Is the world going nuts for Brazil?

jthomson@smartcompany.com.au (Tim Harcourt) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 23:58:14 +0000

Is it now officially the 'age' of Brazil, with the charismatic and populous South American nation picking up the rights to host both the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and of course the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016? Is Brazil, after many false starts, looking like it will fulfill its promise of being one of the world's great economic powerhouses?

The Great Escape – how Australian exporters survived and even thrived in the GFC

jthomson@smartcompany.com.au (Tim Harcourt) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:02:41 +0000

This year - the year of the global financial crisis (GFC) - was meant to be the year of trade Armageddon. This was the year that the bottom would drop out of the export market and everyone would stay at home and never venture beyond our shores.

Sino-the-times

jthomson@smartcompany.com.au (Tim Harcourt) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:01:32 +0000

The airport economist first visited China as a trade union official some years ago. The Australia trade union delegation, of which I was a member, was taken to a factory. While on the tour, I asked our hosts: "Do you have workers' compensation in China?" After much deliberation, the translator replied: "No. If the workers break anything, they don't have to compensate us... straight away."

The leader of the pack – China regains top trading spot

jthomson@smartcompany.com.au (Tim Harcourt) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

It's official: we are ‘hugging the panda' again. China is again our number one trading partner in the new rankings released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Horses for courses – a trader’s form guide to The Cup

ccorser@smartcompany.com.au (Tim Harcourt) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

When you are punting on this year's Melbourne Cup, have a bit of sympathy for Australia's 44,000 exporters who have had to make their big bets on international markets. Like a good punter, Australian exporters have to look at the horse, the jockey, the state of the track and of course, the odds. And it is not just a flutter for them but a major business decision that will affect their livelihood as well as the wellbeing of those who are dependent on their business.

Seoul mates: Korea, Australia and ‘The Great Recovery’

ccorser@smartcompany.com.au (Tim Harcourt) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:16:18 +0000

Seoul has played an important role in Australia's economic and diplomatic history. In fact it was in Seoul 20 years ago, in 1989, that the then Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke launched the APEC concept following key spadework by Australia and the Republic of Korea to build the foundations of an Asia Pacific community.

Down Under to Down Wonder for Australian exporters

ekrieger@smartcompany.com.au (Tim Harcourt) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:09:04 +0000

The Australian dollar is now in the 90 cent territory and there are fears this could affect out strong showing in ‘the great recovery'. There is even some market speculation that the Aussie battler will reach parity with the greenback.

Chinggis Khaanonomics – steppe-ing out in Mongolia

ekrieger@smartcompany.com.au (Tim Harcourt) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:32:34 +0000

Who invented free trade? Was it the British Economist David Ricardo (whose masterful explanation of the principles of comparative advantage has become a text book favourite for economic students ever since)?

Up where Cazaly? The globalisation of football

ekrieger@smartcompany.com.au (Tim Harcourt ) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:00:00 +0000

In one of Australia's great films, Gallipoli, there is a famous scene when the ANZACs play a game of Aussie Rules by the pyramids. It's Western Australia versus Victoria, and the great playwright David Williamson, who wrote the screenplay for the film in collaboration with Peter Weir, in a rare acting role, plays a lanky Victorian ruckman who the West Australians can't budge. It was a great scene, (based on an actual event), combining Australia's brave ANZAC spirit with our carefree love of sport, and in particular, our homegrown game of Australian Rules football. The film, especially in this scene - was a great symbol of Australia and our values and ‘brand' that we show to the world.