Archive for category: EVENT REVIEW

On 2 July 2026, the German Australian Business Council hosted a webinar on critical raw materials and the Australia–EU Free Trade Agreement. The session was presented by Tim Borgschulte, Business Development & Trading Manager at Noble Elements, a Berlin-based trading house specialising in technology metals and rare earth elements. The webinar was moderated by Dietrich Klusemann, German Australian Business Council – Board Member.

Tim Borgschulte set out the scale of the dependency. A handful of critical raw materials underpin smartphones, electric vehicles, wind turbines, semiconductors, data centres and defence systems, yet for most of them the world relies on a single country. China accounts for roughly 60% of rare-earth mining, 90% of refining and 93% of finished magnets, supplies some 98% of the EU’s rare-earth magnets, and provides effectively all of Europe’s heavy rare earths.

The central question for industrial buyers, he argued, has shifted from price to availability, rewarding multiple qualified sources and buffer stock over lowest-cost single sourcing. He traced a decade of tightening Chinese export controls, from gallium and germanium in 2023 to heavy rare earths and magnets in April 2025. A further escalation announced in October 2025 has been suspended, but only until 10 November 2026, it’s a tactical pause, he stressed, rather than a resolution, since the earlier controls remain fully in force and the structural dependency is unchanged. His message for German industry was to use the coming twelve months as a window to act.

Against this backdrop, he made the case for Australia as a strategic partner: politically stable, resource-rich, and already aligned with EU procurement and ESG standards. The Australia–EU Free Trade Agreement, concluded on 24 March 2026, reinforces this by removing tariffs on Australian critical minerals and energy and upgrading the 2024 Strategic Partnership into a binding treaty, though ratification may still take up to two years. The deeper constraint, he noted, is not a shortage of rock but of refineries: the bottleneck lies in the midstream,  where China’s share is greatest and new capacity takes years to build. His prescription was three complementary levers: strategic reserves, diversification beyond China, and integration of offtake, finance and processing into structures that make a refinery bankable.

Key Takeaway

The immediate crisis in critical minerals has eased, but the dependency has not. China’s dominance of the midstream remains the decisive chokepoint, and the suspension of the October 2025 controls offers only a limited window before November 2026. For German industry, the Australia–EU Free Trade Agreement provides a rules-based framework and access to a trusted supplier, but its value will depend on companies, capital and traders turning that framework into bankable contracts.

Contact us at info@gabc.eu for the recording and/or presentation slides.

It was an exciting evening of sport and strategic connections on Friday, 19 June. A dynamic group of German Australian Business Council members and friends came together in Munich for a lively business networking event centered around the highly anticipated World Cup clash between Australia and the USA.

The gathering provided an exceptional, relaxed environment for attendees to exchange industry insights, reconnect with familiar faces, and establish valuable new professional relationships.

On the field, the result did not go our way. Whilst the sporting outcome was unfortunate for the Aussie supporters in the room, it did absolutely nothing to dampen the spirits of the guests. The vibrant conversations, shared passion, and excellent networking ensured that everyone walked away having had a fantastic time.

A special thanks goes to our member, Larry Schulz from the American-German Business Club, for helping to organise the venue and distribute the invitation amongst the various international business groups in Munich.

Thank you to all who joined us and contributed to the success of this event, especially those that travelled longer distances (Leipzig and Frankfurt(!)) and braved the 34°C heat to be there. We look forward to seeing you at our next Business Council gathering in Munich!

On 21 May 2026, the German Australian Business Council, in cooperation with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), hosted a webinar on the Australian Federal Budget 2026. The session was presented by Belinda Allen, Head of Australian Economics, and Adam Donaldson, Head of Market Strategy and Rates Research, both from CBA’s Global Economic and Markets Research team. The webinar was moderated by Matthew Reynolds, German Australian Business Council – Board Member.

The speakers provided an expert overview of the key Budget announcements and their implications for the Australian economy and financial markets, drawing on CBA’s latest research and proprietary spending data.

Belinda Allen opened with an overview of Australia’s current economic position. The economy recorded quarterly growth of 0.6% in Q4, bringing annual growth to 2.6%, above the estimated potential growth rate of around 2.1%, which has been constrained by persistently low productivity. Consumer and business confidence remain mixed against a backdrop of ongoing global uncertainty, while the investment side of the economy is showing relative strength, with a notable surge in data centre construction and capital expenditure intentions at record highs.

On the Budget itself, the speakers noted that the fiscal position showed modest near-term improvements but significant long-term gains, particularly through structural savings. Key announcements included reforms to capital gains tax, the restriction of negative gearing to new residential builds from July 2027, a new minimum tax on discretionary trusts, and a major $10.7 billion investment in fuel and fertiliser security. Defence spending received an additional $53 billion over ten years, and a new $8.6 billion infrastructure package was announced alongside a total pipeline of $120 billion. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) had already hiked rates three times — in February, March and May 2026, with CBA noting that while monetary policy is now in slightly restrictive territory, further tightening remains a risk depending on Budget outcomes, wage growth and the Q2 2026 CPI result.

Adam Donaldson covered the market strategy implications, addressing bond supply, government debt dynamics and the outlook for Australian Commonwealth Government Bonds (ACGBs). He noted that Australia’s gross debt remains low relative to global peers and that the AAA credit rating is expected to remain stable. CBA expects strong ACGB outperformance following the RBA’s rate hikes and the Budget’s confirmation of lower debt supply over the near term.

Key Takeaway

Australia’s economy is growing above its speed limit at a time when inflation risks remain elevated and the RBA has already moved to tighten policy. The 2026 Budget delivers meaningful long-term fiscal repair, particularly through NDIS savings and structural improvements, but CBA’s view is that the Government could have done more to support the RBA in the near term. For businesses with exposure to Australia, the changes to property taxation, the fuel and fertiliser security measures, and the significant uplift in defence and infrastructure spending are the most immediately relevant policy shifts to monitor.

Contact us at info@gabc.eu for the recording and/or presentation slides.

We just wrapped up an inspiring and highly productive Strategy Meeting in Frankfurt and we are energised by what lies ahead!

On Saturday, 28 February 2026, we gathered in Frankfurt for our annual Strategy Meeting, an inspiring and highly productive day dedicated to shaping our strategy for 2026 and beyond. Together, we defined key priorities and set clear goals that we are already starting to work on.

What makes us, the German Australian Business Council, so special is the unique mix of international perspectives, senior experience and genuine collaboration. Bringing together practitioners, business leaders and experts from different industries creates a dynamic environment where ideas are challenged, refined and turned into concrete initiatives. The shared motivation to strengthen the connection between Germany and Australia was tangible throughout the entire day.

A big thank you to our Board Member and Co-Chair Sabine Pittrof and Andersen GmbH Rechtsberatung Steuerberatung for generously providing the venue and facilities. Your support made the day possible.

We also extend our gratitude to our moderator and innovation coach Martin Ströbele for guiding us through the discussions and helping structure such a valuable and forward-looking exchange.

It was also a pleasure to welcome new members Anna Thwaites, Janine Dersch, Jil Schmid, Marc Dostal and Marie du Puy and get to know them in person, further strengthening our growing network and the bridge between Germany and Australia.

Looking forward to the next steps and to bringing our strategy to life together. 🚀

#Strategy #Leadership #Germany #Australia #Collaboration

As part of the first official Germany visit of 2026 by the Commissioner for Victoria to Europe, the German Australian Business Council was pleased to co-host a networking evening in Berlin strengthening the partnerships between Victoria and Germany.

The delegation was led by Gönül Serbest, Commissioner for Victoria to Europe, the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa, accompanied by Anne-Sophie Boulet, Investment Director, and Léonore Marteville, Strategic Advisor. Their visit to Germany included engagements in Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin, aimed at deepening relationships with partners and further raising Victoria’s profile across the German market.

The Berlin networking event brought together around 50 investors, Victorian companies, GABC members, and key stakeholders from business and government. Opening the evening, Commissioner Serbest highlighted the strong complementarities between Victoria and Germany, including close alignment across priority sectors such as life sciences, technology, advanced manufacturing, and energy. Gönül Serbest reaffirmed Victoria’s strategic focus on Germany as a key market for trade, investment, and long-term collaboration.

Victoria and Germany share highly developed, stable and innovation-driven economies, with a strong emphasis on research, skills development, advanced industry and sustainable growth. Both are recognised for their world-class education and research institutions, robust manufacturing and engineering capabilities, and leadership in clean energy and emerging technologies, creating a solid foundation for deeper commercial partnerships and joint innovation.

We were honoured to hear from H.E. Ms Natasha Smith, Australian Ambassador to Germany, who highlighted the strength and depth of the Australia–Germany relationship. German Australian Business Council Co-Chair Robert Harrison also spoke about the importance of people-to-people links between Germany and Victoria and highlighted the potential for further engagement and collaboration.

Looking ahead, Commissioner Serbest expressed her hope to see continued momentum and expanded engagement between Victoria and Germany, with more opportunities for collaboration, investment, and knowledge exchange in both markets in the years to come.

The German Australian Business Council extends its sincere thanks to the State Government of Victoria, Invest Victoria, and Global Victoria for leading this important engagement. We also thank our Board Members and team, in particular Jessica Walker, Robert Harrison, Diah Yulianti and Suzanne Heim for their support in delivering this successful event.

Pictures by Olga Baczynska – www.berlineventfotograf.de