One great thing about traveling is meeting people and learning about their way of life. For me, that includes learning about entrepreneurism in the countries I visit.
Earlier this year, I had the privilege of spending five weeks in Australia where I found a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Though challenged by both geography (only Southeast Asia offers a nearby international market) and population (26 million people in the entire continent), Aussie entrepreneurs in fields ranging from finance to healthcare, agriculture to climate technologies are doing well at home and having increasing presence on the world stage.
“Whether this is the lingering influence of a relatively young country that needs the efforts of those willing to take the personal risks of starting a new business so that the broader community is able to build and develop, or the interaction of this and other factors, I feel Australia generally welcomes and supports entrepreneurs initiating small, medium and large business ventures,” observed Stuart Muir, owner with his wife Judy of the Beaumaris Beach Guest House in Tasmania. True entrepreneurs, the Muirs also have a gift shop onsite and have decorated much of the place with Judy’s art, which is for sale. They also helped found the Tasmania’s Best Bed and Breakfast Association, a collaborative that promotes lodgings like theirs.
Stuart Muir described government support at the national, state and local levels as readily available. Among other tools, the Australian government has a website that gathers and organizes information and resources from all three levels for easier access.
“The site also provides links and information on registering a business name in Australia, applying for an Australian Business Number, and registering companies, trademarks, licenses and permits. It also provides details and support for planning and operating a business, particularly in the early stages of operation when these things are new to the enterprise and there may be aspects which the entrepreneur has yet to think about.”
Australian cities in general are doing well, and according to Elijah Ponte of the family-owned Unique Opal Mine, Adelaide in particular is booming. Selling opal jewelry and specimens, the business has grown to the point where it now employes six jewelers and cutters full time. Yet they have one recurring hurdle that will sound familiar to many New Orleans-area companies.
“The biggest challenge we face as a business is our winter season and the lack of international tourists during this time,” Ponte reported. “International tourists being our main customer base, when the busy season ends, we always find a decline in our sales.”
The current tariff situation roiling world trade is also challenging enterprises that export some of their products. Kevin O’Brien, owner of the esteemed Kangarilla Road winery, noted that shipments to the United States used to comprise about 40% of his international market; that number is now below 10%.
One constant subcurrent I encountered in Australia is the relationship between the descendants of the European settlers and the indigenous Aboriginal people. Recognition of the Aborigines as the first Australians is universal – even the in-flight safety message on Qantas led off with an acknowledgment of this.
From a business standpoint, this is reflected in the growing number of Aboriginal art collectives around the country and the prevalence of indigenous people in inner-country tourism. One strange aspect of this, however, was that many tourist-targeted items that proudly proclaimed themselves as “Aboriginal Design” turned out, upon closer inspection, to have been made in Vietnam. This questions their authenticity and the benefits to Aboriginal craftspeople.
Friendly people, gorgeous scenery and more make Australia a great place to visit. The wide-open spaces are an apt metaphor for the wide-open business opportunities, backed by a strong entrepreneurial support system and the can-do Aussie spirit.
