Doing Business with Australia

Practical telephone numbers (emergency services, police, firemen, information lines, etc.)

Australia’s country code is +61. The entire telephone network in the country uses eight-digit local telephone numbers.

There are four area codes:
2 – New South Wales (capital Sydney), ACT (Canberra)
3 – Victoria (capital Melbourne), Tasmania (capital Hobart)
7 – Queensland (capital Brisbane)
8 – South Australia (capital Adelaide), Western Australia (capital Perth), Northern Territory (capital Darwin)

Important phone numbers:

• Universal emergency number: 000
  · Exclusively in cases of emergency, i.e. threats to health and life, the consular emergency service is maintained on the telephone numbers: +61 418 262 289 (Embassy of the Czech Republic in Canberra) and +61 411 895 954 (Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Sydney )
  · The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s 24-hour consular emergency line: 1300 555 135
  The Australian Department of Home Affairs’ visa line, Monday to Friday between 9:00 and 17:00 local time: 131 881 (if calling from Australia) and +61 2 6196 0196 (when calling outside Australia)

Important web links and contacts

AUS Prime Minister’s Official Site: www.pm.gov.au AUS
State Administration Server: www.directory.gov.au
AUS Government Server with links to individual departments, states and territories: www.gov.au, www.australia.gov. au
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade AUS: www.dfat.gov.au
Department of Home Affairs AUS: www.homeaffairs.gov.au
Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources AUS: www.industry.gov.au
Department of Finance AUS: www.finance.gov.au
Department of Transport, Infrastructure, Regional Development and Communications AUS: www.infrastructure.gov.au, www.communications.gov.au, www.bitre.gov.au
Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment AUS: www.awe.gov.au
Department of Health AUS: www.health.gov.au
Department of War Veterans AUS: www.dva.gov.au
Department of Defense AUS: www.defence.gov.au
Department of Education, Development and Employment AUS: www.dese.gov.au, www.education.gov.au, www. employment.gov.au
Department of Prime Minister and Government/ Department of Public Services AUS: dpmc.gov.au
Department of the Treasury AUS: treasury.gov.au
Department of Social Affairs AUS: www.dss.gov.au
Delegation of the European Union to the AU: https ://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/australia_en
AUS Chamber of Commerce and Industry: www.australianchamber.com.au
AUS Commission for Trade and Investment in the Czech Republic: www.austrade.gov.au
Business Council of Australia: www.bca.com.au
European-Australian Business Council: www.eabc.com.au
Australian Business Owners Association: www.boaa.com.au
Small Business Association AUS: www.smallbusinessassociation.com.au
Tax Administration: www.ato.gov.au
Federal Customs: www.abf.gov.au
Information about Australian laws: www.legislation.gov.au
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (www.asic.gov.au)

News sources in Australia:
The Australian: www.theaustralian.com.au
Daily Telegraph: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
Herald Sun: www.heraldsun.com.au
The Sydney Morning Herald: www.smh.com.au
Business Insider Australia: www.businessinsider.com.au
Australian Financial Review: www.afr.com.au

Websites of embassies of the Czech Republic

Embassy of the Czech Republic in Canberra: www.mzv.cz/canberra
Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Sydney: www.mzv.cz/sydney

The Ten Commandments for Doing Business with Australia

The PaulSourcing agency has prepared ten recommendations for doing business with Australia for Czech entrepreneurs interested in business relations with Australia.

1. Don’t underestimate preparation Perfect preparation for an important business meeting or an important project is key. Australians are friendly and open people. However, do not forget about accuracy, punctuality and precise preparation of documents and arguments for negotiations. Clear and eye-catching materials about the given product / technology are a must.
2. Be confident, not arrogant Negotiations with Australian partners do not have to be easy, Australians can be very tough negotiators. Be aware of your competitive advantage, the quality of your products and the value of your offer, and don’t be afraid to politely but assertively assert your interests.
3. Be a reliable and trustworthy partner Don’t promise anything you can’t keep and respect the agreements made. Meeting deadlines is a basic rule. In the event of a delay, e.g. in the fulfillment of longer-term deliveries, caused by unexpected circumstances, contact the Australian partner immediately and try to resolve the situation to mutual satisfaction.
4. Be flexible Australian businesses can be demanding and a company that is able to respond flexibly to the changing market situation or the new requirements of the Australian customer is considered a prospective partner. In the event that the approached companies show an interest in your products or in cooperation, it is necessary to provide all the documents necessary for decision-making as quickly as possible (offer, price list, catalog, etc.), which proves your professional approach and serious interest in cooperation.
5. Be active and proactive Monitor the market situation and monitor trends. Maintain long-term relationships with Australian partners and inform them of new products. You will be defended as a serious partner with a serious interest in cooperation. Listen and be an active listener during the conversation. Sharing your opinions (even critical ones) is appreciated, but keep it direct, concise and don’t brag too much.
6. Addressing Australians soon begin to address each other by their first name even during the first meetings and no longer use Mr./Mrs. Wait for the other party’s call with ticking.
7. A strong trading partner The high purchasing power of the population makes Australia an attractive trading partner. Australia is one of the countries with the highest standard of living in the world, so high quality products have a chance to succeed. Environmental friendliness is also important for the local residents. In Australia, there may still be a certain reserve in the approach to the countries of so-called Eastern Europe. Patience, initiative of the Czech company and focused long-term communication with Australian partners are key factors when entering the Australian market.
8. Respect the specifics of the local environment When you are not sure of your partner’s attitude, weigh every word: rather be careful with the use of humor during negotiations and respect the importance of traditional Australian values. Although Australians may be similar to us in many ways, they have their own cultural idiosyncrasies and may react differently to many situations than we would expect.In negotiations, Australians appreciate brevity, directness and open demeanor. A pleasant atmosphere can be felt at every meeting. Bargaining is not common. Each proposal should be presented with acceptable terms, correctly and objectively.
9. Be active in Australia Czech companies and industry associations can greatly benefit from participating in Australian trade fairs. Look for sales representatives who will make it easier for you to do business in Australia.
10. Use the services of professionals who know the local environment Local conditions can be quite different compared to what Czech companies are used to, for example from European countries. It is certainly worthwhile to use the services of local experts on legal, import or certification issues, if necessary also specializing in the given industrial segment. PaulSourcing’s foreign office in Sydney can also help you make the necessary contacts.