Engage with DFAT
Contents
Overview
The Australian Government is pursuing new trade opportunities for Australian businesses. As former Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Hon Dan Tehan MP, announced in February 2021, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is undertaking a feasibility study on how best to strengthen trade and investment with Israel, including possibly through a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Australia's bilateral economic relationship with Israel has continued to grow in recent years. Two-way goods and services trade increased to approximately $1.3 billion in 2019-20. Australian exports to Israel were worth $345 million and imports from Israel to Australia were worth $1.02 billion. In 2019, Australian investment in Israel totalled $1.2 billion and Israeli investment in Australia was $342 million, mostly centred in the innovation sector.
In 2019, the Australian Government opened the Australian Trade and Defence Office in West Jerusalem and concluded the Australia-Israel Double Taxation Agreement. In 2016, Austrade established the Australian Landing Pad in Tel Aviv, which has supported more than 81 Australian companies tap into Israel's advanced innovation ecosystem.
Contact us
Inquiries can be sent to:
Mail:
Levant Section
Middle East Branch
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
RG Casey Building, John McEwen Crescent
Barton ACT 0221
Submissions
Public consultations comprise a key component of the feasibility study. Submissions will assist the Government in identifying Australia's priorities for strengthening trade and investment with Israel. DFAT invited submissions from interested businesses, groups and individuals. Non-confidential submissions are published below. New submissions can no longer be accepted.
Submissions received [PDF]
- Phil Scanlan
- Zionist Federation of Australia
- Medical Technology Association of Australia
- Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine
- Wine Australia
- Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council
- Townsville City Council
- Australian Jewish Democratic Society
- Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce
- Australia Palestine Advocacy Network
- New Israel Fund Australia
- Palestine Fair Trade Australia
- Customs and Global Trade Lawyers, Freight Trade Alliance
- Quaker Peace and Legislation Committee
- Free Palestine Melbourne
- Australian Friends of Palestine Association
- Northern Beaches Committee for Palestine
- Australian Grape & Wine
- Palestinian Israel Ecumenical Network
- Mark Bradbeer
- Friends of Bethlehem
- Dr Gideon Polya
- Mariam Dennaoui
- Coby Hanoch
- Ruth Palmon
- Louise Pain
- Dr Vacy Vlazna, Justice for Palestine Matters
- Australian Centre for International Justice, Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council